The National Democratic Congress Majority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate cancellation of the party’s parliamentary primary in the Ayawaso East constituency following allegations of vote-buying and inducement during the exercise.
In a statement dated February 8, 2026, and signed by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Mahama Ayariga, the caucus said it had taken note of what it described as widely circulated allegations of vote-buying in the just-ended primary.
“The caucus wishes to strongly condemn these developments against the background of the agenda to reset the politics of this country,” the statement said.
After deliberations involving both its core and extended leadership, the caucus said it had resolved to formally communicate its position to the party’s Functional Executive Committee.
It called for the annulment of the Ayawaso East primary organised by the NDC and asked that any candidate found to have engaged in unethical conduct during the process should be barred from taking part in any fresh primary that may be held after the annulment.
The caucus said its position was driven by the need to safeguard integrity in Ghana’s political process and to uphold standards expected within the party.
The call follows Saturday’s primary in which Mr Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed secured 431 votes to defeat his closest contender, Hajia Amina Adam, who polled 399 votes.
Reports emerged during the voting that members of Mr Baba Jamal’s campaign team distributed 32-inch television sets and boiled eggs to delegates. The reports sparked criticism from civil society groups and party stakeholders.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has also stepped into the matter. In a public notice issued on Sunday, the OSP said it had begun real-time investigations into the Ayawaso East primary. The investigations, it said, relate to allegations of vote-buying, vote-selling and the sources of funding linked to the alleged acts.
The OSP also disclosed that it had opened a separate inquiry into the alleged assault of one of its officers during the primary. The office said the officer was allegedly attacked by individuals said to have acted with the backing of Mr Baba Jamal.
The primary was held to select the NDC’s candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026. The by-election follows the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Naser Toure, on January 4, 2026.
The Electoral Commission has set February 9 to February 11, 2026, for the receipt of nominations. It is not yet clear whether the party’s Functional Executive Committee will act on the Majority Caucus’s call before the nomination window closes.
