NDC approves Baba Jamal as parliamentary candidate despite vote-buying controversy
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially approved Baba Jamal as its candidate for the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, despite widespread allegations of voter inducement during the February 7 primary election.
According to the party, although initial investigations uncovered some irregularities during the primaries, constitutional and time constraints present limited options.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, NDC General Secretary Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey explained that the findings of the three-member investigative committee set up after the election has revealed what he described as a “troubling picture” of the February 7 primary.
“Let me just say that the long and short of the report is that inappropriate conduct was exhibited by virtually almost all the candidates,” he said. “Even though you cannot establish because the candidates were clear that what they did were in light of motivating the delegates, we believe that that was inappropriate.”
He indicated that while candidates claimed their actions were intended to “motivate” delegates, the party leadership saw these actions as inappropriate and added that despite the committee’s recommendation that results of the primary be nullified, the party faces “procedural and constitutional constraints” that made such action impractical.
“However, the committee also acknowledged that there are real obstacles that make it difficult for us to do them,” he explained. “One, the party’s constitution does not have a provision for an annulment of election. Two, we are time bound because we need to be presenting a candidate by tomorrow to the Electoral Commission.”
“There are legal challenges that could be mounted by whoever won, and the party clearly would not be able to go through any other position coming very quickly. So, in the light of that, the party effectively has taken the recommendation which is that we, given the difficulties of time and also the legal challenges, we have no option but to present Baba Jamal who won according to the Electoral Commission declaration,” he added.
The General Secretary further shared the party’s endorsement of President Mahama’s decision to recall Jamal from his position as High Commissioner to Nigeria following the allegations, emphasizing that the decision was not a targeted action, but tied to the allegations.
“The party also wants to signal that we take into consideration the step taken by the President, and the President acted purely on the back of what happened on Saturday, based on the allegation, he asked for Baba Jamal who was High Commissioner in Nigeria to be recalled. We think that that was actually appropriate by the President,” Fiifi Kwetey stated.
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