On Tuesday, the Electoral Commission (EC) declared Professor Alidu Mahama Seidu of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the winner of the Tamale Central by-election after he emerged as the sole candidate. The Returning Officer, Muniru Musah, explained that this decision was in accordance with Constitutional Instrument (CI) 127, which allows the EC to declare an unopposed candidate duly elected. “As it stands, only Prof. Alidu Seidu Mahama is nominated, and according to CI 127, he shall be declared elected,” Musah stated.
The by-election was prompted by the death of the incumbent lawmaker, Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who tragically died in a helicopter crash nearly two months ago. Initially, three candidates filed to contest the vacant seat; however, both the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) later withdrew their candidacies, leaving the NDC candidate unchallenged. The EC reopened nominations for ten days, but no new contenders came forward.
Seidu is expected to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament in the coming days. The NDC’s Deputy Regional Secretary, Ziblim Saaka, welcomed the outcome, stating that the new MP would fulfill his promises and “advance the party’s commitment to progress in Tamale Central.”
Source: Jonathan Ofori
