The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared Baba Jamal to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election on the party’s ticket, following an internal investigation into allegations of vote buying during the party’s recent primary.



The decision was disclosed on February 10 by the party’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, after the submission of a committee report that examined claims of irregularities in the February 7 parliamentary primary.

Addressing journalists after receiving the report, Mr Kwetey explained that the committee lacked the constitutional basis to invalidate the outcome of the primary.

“The Committee could not annul the primary because the NDC Constitution contains no provision allowing annulment of primaries,” he said.

He further noted that time constraints related to the Electoral Commission’s nomination deadlines influenced the party’s decision to present Baba Jamal as its candidate for the March 3 by-election.

“The decision to present Baba Jamal was influenced by time constraints, as the party must submit a candidate for the impending by-election,” Mr Kwetey added.

In an earlier statement dated January 19, the Electoral Commission announced that “nominations would be received at the Ayawaso East Municipal office of the Commission, from Monday, February 9, 2026, to Wednesday, February 11, 2026, between the hours of 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm on each day.”

Beyond clearing the candidate, the committee also proposed disciplinary measures. According to Mr Kwetey, it recommended that the President sanction government appointees who took part in the internal contest.

He added that “the Committee is to be expanded to seven members to comprehensively address issues of inappropriate conduct during internal elections.”

Meanwhile, a member of the investigative committee, Inusah Fuseini, declined to disclose details of the report when approached by the media after its submission on February 10.

The Ayawaso East by-election is expected to be closely contested, with political parties intensifying preparations ahead of the polls.