The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has affirmed its decision to participate in the Akwatia Constituency parliamentary by-election scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com, the confirmation was contained in a statement signed by the party’s Deputy General Secretary, Godwin Ako Gunn.

Following the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) announcement that it will not contest the Tamale Central by-election, necessitated by the death of the constituency’s MP, Dr Murtala Muhammed, in a helicopter crash, some have called on the NDC to also demonstrate goodwill by not contesting the Akwatia seat.

However, the NDC’s statement argued that the NPP’s decision regarding Tamale Central was less about respect, as publicly claimed, and more about political strategy.

According to Gunn, the NPP’s move serves its political interest under the current circumstances.

The NDC accused the NPP of withdrawing to avoid an obvious defeat and to leverage public sympathy ahead of the Akwatia poll. The party stressed that it is not unprecedented for a political party to opt out of a by-election, citing its own decision not to contest the Ejisu by-election following the death of John Kumah.

The statement also pointed out that the Akwatia seat was already under legal dispute before the passing of Ernest Kumi.

The NDC urged voters not to take the NPP’s announcement at face value, recalling instances where the party had reversed its stance.

“In the Ablekuma North rerun, the NPP declared that they were not contesting, but in fact, they were the first to hit the ground,” Gunn said.

The statement nonetheless expressed condolences to the family of the late Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, as well as to the families of the eight people who died in the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the Tamale Central MP and the Minister for Defence and NDC Director of Elections, Dr Edward Omane Boamah.

“Let us be mindful of our comments in this time of mourning,” the party urged its supporters.

The NDC held its parliamentary primary for Akwatia on August 4, 2025, at the GCD Walker Park, where over 1,000 delegates from 119 party branches and constituency executives voted.

Three aspirants contested: Baidoo, who polled 380 votes; Erasmus Ali Korney, who secured 366 votes; and former MP Henry Boakye Yiadom, who received 232 votes.

Baidoo, who previously represented Yiadom in a legal challenge against Kumi’s 2024 election victory, was declared the winner by Eastern Regional Electoral Commission Director, Appiah Baffoe.

GA

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