NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey has confirmed that the National Democratic Congress will proceed with Mohammed Baba Jamal as its candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election, despite unresolved allegations of vote-buying arising from the party’s recent parliamentary primary.
The NDC General Secretary announced the decision after a meeting of the party’s Functional Executive Committee, which considered a report from a three-member investigative committee.
Addressing journalists, Mr Kwetey said the committee concluded that “ideally, we should have an annulment of the primaries,” but explained that this could not be done.
He cited constitutional and time constraints, noting that “the party’s constitution does not have a provision for an annulment of an election” and that the NDC was “time-bound because we need to be presenting a candidate by tomorrow to the Electoral Commission.”
He also warned of possible legal challenges, saying the party “would not be able to go through any of that process without presenting a candidate very quickly.”
“On the back of these, we have no option but to present Baba Jamal, who actually won, according to the Electoral Commission declaration,” Mr Kwetey said.
The investigative committee had examined claims that aspirants offered inducements, including cash and television sets, to delegates during the February 7 primary.
According to Mr Kwetey, the report found that “inappropriate conduct was exhibited by virtually all the candidates.”
