EC prepared for Ayawaso East by-election set for March 3- EC Director

Everything is in place for the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election scheduled for March 3, 2026.

The poll comes after the death of the area’s Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure, in January while undergoing treatment at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

At the ballot draw held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Baba Jamal, picked the first position on the ballot. Ibrahim Iddrisu of the Liberal People’s Party (LPP) secured the second slot, while Yussif Baba Ali, representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP), took the third position. Independent candidates Alhaji Mohammed Umara-Sanda and David Kannor drew the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

The outcome of the election will decide who occupies the Ayawaso East seat in Parliament.

A Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Sam Dottoh Kwaah, told the Daily Graphic that the Commission is fully prepared for the exercise. He indicated that all categories of officials required for the by-election have been recruited, with their training commencing today, Tuesday, and ending on Friday, February 27, 2026.

According to him, two Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) have been allocated to each of the 113 polling stations and delivered to the constituency. Notices of Poll have also been printed and dispatched.

Mr Kwaah further stated that printing of ballot papers, as well as the Statement of Poll and Declaration of Results Forms, will begin on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. He added that 49,966 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots, with ballot papers scheduled to arrive in the constituency by Saturday, February 28, 2026.

In previous elections, the late Alhaji Toure won the 2024 parliamentary race with 22,139 votes, representing 70.85 per cent, defeating the NPP’s Zak Rahman, who obtained 9,110 votes (29.15 per cent).

In 2020, Alhaji Mahama polled 23,583 votes (61.18 per cent), while the NPP’s Peter Kwame Antwi Mireku secured 14,966 votes (38.82 per cent).

Similarly, in the 2016 elections, Alhaji Mahama garnered 23,407 votes (62.10 per cent) to beat Mireku, who had 13,599 votes (36.08 per cent). Other contenders included Mohammed Ibrahim Bilal of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Abdul Ganiyu Shaibu of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Alhassan Abubakari of the People’s National Convention (PNC).