Correspondence from Northern Region

Fourteen candidates have picked nomination forms to contest the NDC’s parliamentary primaries ahead of the September 30 by-election in the Tamale Central Constituency of the Northern Region.

At the close of nominations on Sunday, 14 aspirants, including three women, had picked forms as part of the party’s process to find a parliamentary candidate to replace the late two-term Member of Parliament, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who died in the August 6 helicopter crash at Adansi in the Ashanti Region.

The aspirants include Dr Seidu Mohammed Fiter, NDC Tolon Constituency Communications Officer and Assistant Lecturer at the University for Development Studies in Tamale; Abdul-Rahman Hanan Gundadow, former Mayor of Tamale; Mariama Naama Salifu, a Ghanaian diplomat; and Alhaji Alhassan Mbalba, former Chairman of the NDC’s UK/Ireland branch.

Others are Aliu Abdul Hamid, Vice Chairman of the NDC Canada Branch; Prof. Alidu Seidu, Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission; Professor Abdul-Razak Abubakari, Lecturer at the Tamale Technical University; and Lawyer Halid Abdul Rauf, National Vice Chairman of the NDC.

The rest include Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu Engineer, a 2016 aspirant of the party; Hajia Shamima Yakubu, Northern Regional Treasurer of the NDC; Osman Alhassan Gomda, a Constituency Executive; Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Rashid; Sadat Haruna Alhassan; and Hajia Mulaika Sualisu.

Confirming the number of aspirants, Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT of the NDC, Dr Arnold Mashud, said the submission of completed nomination forms is scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025.

“Aspirants are advised to submit their forms accordingly,” he stated on Sunday.

Two contestants withdraw from race

Despite picking forms, Halid Abdul Rauf and Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu have withdrawn from the contest.

While Halid Abdul Rauf gave no reason for his decision, Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu cited the unusually high number of aspirants.

“Engineer says he could not sleep last night because of the numbers. The late MP’s tragic passing and legacy deserve to be mourned better than this. He says this is not the kind of contest he wants to be in,” a member of his team told GhanaWeb.

Haruna Iddrisu’s brother rescinds decision to contest

Conspicuously missing from the final list is Dr Sulemana Iddrisu, Principal of the Tamale College of Education and elder brother of Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, who was widely tipped as one of the frontrunners.

According to his team, the crowded field discouraged him from contesting.

“The numbers are too many. As someone who respects the memory and legacy of Dr Murtala, we can confirm he will no longer be contesting,” the team said.

You can also watch today’s news in Twi below: