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Two aspirants who picked nomination forms to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary for the Tamale Central Constituency by-election have withdrawn.
As of the close of day on Sunday, a total of 12 aspirants had filed to contest the NDC's parliamentary primary to find a replacement for Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who died in the August 6 military helicopter crash.
Vetting, balloting, and appeals are scheduled for Sunday, August 31, 2025, while the primary would take place on Saturday, September 6, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The aspirants comprise nine men and three women.
The aspirants include Abdul Hanan Abdul Rahaman Gundadoo, former Metropolitan Chief Executive of Tamale; Seidu Mohammed, Principal Research Assistant at the University for Development Studies (UDS); Mariama Naama Salifu, a diplomat; and Dr Rahman Abdul Rashid.
Others are Dr Aliu Abdul Hamid, a civil engineer; Prof. Razak Abubakari, Senior Lecturer at Tamale Technical University; Alhaji Alhassan Nbalba, former Chairman of the NDC-UK/Ireland Chapter, and Prof. Alidu Seidu, former Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Legon.
The rest are Hajia Muliaka Sualisu; Sadat Harun Alhassan, a lawyer; Alhassan Osman Gomda, an entrepreneur, and Hajia Shamima Yakubu, the NDC’s Northern Regional Treasurer.
However, two aspirants—Abdul Rauf Halid, National Vice-Chairman of the NDC, and Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu, an engineer, who picked nomination forms on Friday, have since withdrawn from the race, citing personal reasons.
The party opened nominations on Friday, August 22, and closed the process on Sunday, August 24.
The Deputy Northern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Ziblim Saaka, told the Daily Graphic that the exercise was smooth.
He confirmed that while two individuals had withdrawn after picking up the forms, others who initially expressed interest did not follow through.
In a statement issued earlier, the NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, urged aspirants and stakeholders to conduct their campaigns with restraint, unity, and fairness.
The Tamale Central parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed in the helicopter crash.
Dr Mohammed, who was also the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, was in Parliament on the ticket of the NDC.
The Electoral Commission has fixed September 30, 2025, for the Tamale Central by-election to replace the late MP.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has already announced that it will not field a candidate in the by-election.
