The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared Prof. Seidu Mahama Alidu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the Member of Parliament-elect for the Tamale Central Constituency.
This was after no other candidate filed to contest the parliamentary by-election otherwise scheduled for September 30, 2025.
The Tamale Metropolitan Director of the EC, Muniru Musah, who also serves as the Returning Officer for the Tamale Central Constituency, made the declaration yesterday after the close of the extended nomination period, which ended on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
He explained that the decision to declare Prof. Alidu unopposed as the sole candidate and winner was enshrined in Sub-regulation (3) of Regulation 13 of Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 127.
Sub-regulation (3) provides that “where at the close of nominations and after the end of the further period of 10 days under sub-regulation (2) only one candidate stands nominated, an election shall not be conducted and that candidate shall be declared”.
Declaration
“In view of this, I, Muniru Musah, Returning Officer for the Tamale Central Constituency, in line with C.I. 127, hereby declare Prof. Alidu as the MP-elect for the Tamale Central Constituency,” he said.
The declaration drew a huge applause and jubilation from the NDC regional, constituency and party faithful who thronged the EC metro office in Tamale.
The decision also made Prof. Alidu the first person to enter Parliament without a parliamentary election in the Fourth Republic.
This means that no election will be held by the EC as planned on September 30, 2025, to replace the deceased NDC MP for the constituency, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.
Recall
The EC had earlier announced the extension of the nomination period for the Tamale Central Constituency Parliamentary by-election following the withdrawal of two out of three candidates initially cleared to contest.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 12, 2025, the Commission explained that at the close of nominations on September 10, three candidates had filed to contest, but two later withdrew, leaving only one candidate in the race.
Citing Article 50 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC said in such circumstances, an additional 10-day window was provided for fresh nominations.
As a result, the EC said nominations had been reopened from September 12 to September 21, 2025, at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the Commission.
However, at the close of the extended nomination last Sunday, Prof. Alidu remained as the sole candidate and was accordingly declared as the MP-elect for the Tamale Central Constituency.
