The vetting exercise for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) North East Regional Executive Elections has left 50 aspirants fighting for 15 positions. The numbers are very uneven. The race for Deputy Youth Organizer is the most crowded, with seven cleared contenders. The race for Deputy Treasurer has one.
The vetting was held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the North East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Nalerigu. Two aspirants were disqualified.
A crowded field at the bottom, a quiet one at the top
The three top jobs, Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary, each have three cleared aspirants. The deputy positions are more competitive. Seven aspirants are in for Deputy Youth Organizer, and five each for Deputy Secretary and Deputy Communication Officer. Four are in for Communication Officer.
At the other end, only two aspirants each are left for Organizer and Youth Organizer. Nurudini Abdul-Rahaman is the only cleared candidate for Deputy Treasurer. His contender, Amos Baba Kombet, was disqualified. The position is effectively uncontested unless later developments change that.
The numbers
The NDC North East Regional Director of Elections and IT, Shamudeen Abu, told the press after the vetting that 50 aspirants had been cleared. He said 53 people picked up nomination forms. Of those, 52 submitted them before the deadline on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The 50 cleared are the 52 who submitted, less the two disqualified.
The vetting committee had six members. Three came from the national level and three from the region.
The two disqualified
Raabi Darkom was contesting for Women Organiser. Amos Baba Kombet was contesting for Deputy Treasurer. The Women Organiser race still has three cleared aspirants, but Kombet’s disqualification removed the only challenge to Mr Abdul-Rahaman. The reasons for the disqualifications were not given.
Cleared aspirants
- Chairman: Abdul Rauf Tanko Ibrahim, Abdul-Razak Saaka, John Campion Yenukwah
- Vice Chairman: John Bibirim, Iddrisu Na-Yaw Abochi, Banabelsera Yusif Adam
- Secretary: Timothy Konlan Nunifant, Abdallah Abubakari, Wundow Salifu Abraham Mangariba
- Deputy Secretary: Yentik Gariba, Thomas B. Jayen, Shiraz Seidu, Adam Latif, Nampasia Natomah
- Organizer: Godfred Mayeem, Junjoung James B.
- Deputy Organizer: Mohammed Akunloya, Jabiuk Nwonyor, Abdul-Razak Yahaya
- Treasurer: Ibrahim Rasheed, Atibila Kutam, Timothy Laari Sampoa
- Deputy Treasurer: Nurudini Abdul-Rahaman (unopposed)
- Communication Officer: A. Abdul Gafaru Mohammed, Malik Abdulai, Lichal Kimomba Simon, Abdul-Ganiu Alhassan
- Deputy Communication Officer: Hamza Iddrisu Salifu, Emmanuel Gulari, Musah Yaw Anass, Ali Wuni Abdul Majeed, Amadu Abdul Nafiw Munkaila
- Women Organizer: Sumaya Ligbi Salifu, Matilda Aduku, Hamida Abdul-Rahaman
- Deputy Women Organizer: Forkinam Laadi, Asana Yidana, Bicheso Moake Comfort
- Youth Organizer: Fatawu Karandey Amidu, Ganiu Mahama
- Deputy Youth Organizer: Nibi Ahmed Micheal, Azabu Sherif, Kamil Dabri Ibrahim, Samare Ezekiel, Yussif Sulemana Saeed, Ibrahim Rashid, Karim Awuffor Amidu
- Zongo Caucus Coordinator: Tahiru Rafiu, Issahaku Ridwan, Dagonna Alhassan Baba
With vetting done, attention turns to the next stage of the elections, as the party prepares to choose its next regional executive.
