The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate in the Tamale Central by-election, Prof. Alidu Seidu, is set to make history as the first person to enter Parliament without parliamentary elections in the Fourth Republic.

This follows the Electoral Commission (EC)’s decision to declare him unopposed if no other person files to contes the election by close of the extended September 30, 2025, deadline for filing of nominations.

What this mean is that the election will not be held as planned by the EC to replace the deceased NDC Member of Parliament for the constituency, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

The Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, told Graphic Online's Albert K. Salia that the decision to declare the sole candidate unopposed and winner was enshrined in Subregulation (3) of Regulation 13 of C.I.127.

The subregulation (3) provides that “where at the close of nominations and after the end of the further period of ten days under subregulation (2) only one candidate stands nominated, an election shall not be conducted and that candidate shall be declared elected.”

Date of election

As to whether the September 30 date fixed for the by-election still holds for the election, should someone file to contest Prof. Alidu Mahama Seidu, Mr Tettey answered in the affirmative.

“Yes, it will hold if someone files and the September 30 date will not change,” he emphasised. 

Extension

The EC, last Friday, announced the extension of the nomination period for the Tamale Central Constituency Parliamentary by-election following the withdrawal of two out of three candidates initially cleared to contest.

In a statement issued on Friday, September 12, 2025, the Commission explained that at the close of nominations on September 10, three candidates had filed to contest, but two later withdrew, leaving only one candidate in the race.

Citing Article 50(2) of the 1992 Constitution, the EC noted that in such circumstances, an additional 10-day window was provided for fresh nominations.

As a result, the EC said nominations had been reopened from September 12 to September 21, 2025, at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the Commission between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

“Aspiring candidates are required to download nomination forms from the Commission’s website and submit them in person or through their proposer or seconder.

Each nomination must be endorsed by 20 registered voters in the constituency — two as proposer and seconder, and 18 as assenting supporters,” it said.

The statement urged candidates to also provide two passport-sized photographs against a red background, alongside completed forms delivered in quadruplicate.

The filing fee has been set at GH¢10,000 for male candidates, while female aspirants and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will pay a reduced cost of GH¢7,500.

The EC urged the public to take note of the new arrangements and assured that the process would be conducted in line with constitutional requirements.