The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is preparing for a competitive parliamentary primary in Tamale Central as twelve aspirants remain in the contest to represent the party in the upcoming by-election.
This follows the withdrawal of two early entrants, Lawyer Abdul Rauf Halid, the party’s National Vice Chairman, and Engineer Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu, both of whom stepped down citing personal reasons and the crowded nature of the field.
The Tamale Central by-election was triggered by the tragic passing of the constituency’s Member of Parliament and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Alhaji Hon. Dr. Murtala Muhammed, who died in the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region.
His death, which claimed seven other lives, created a constitutional vacancy in Parliament in accordance with Article 112(5). Among those vying for the NDC ticket are experienced politicians, academics, professionals, and party financiers.
The list of aspirants includes Lawyer Abdul Hanan Abdul Rahaman Gundadoo, a former Mayor of Tamale, and Seidu Mohammed, popularly known as Fiter, a Principal Research Assistant at the University for Development Studies. Also in the race is Mariama Naama Salifu, known as Princess Yelzoli of Zabzugu, who has a diplomatic background, alongside Dr. Rahman Abdul Rashid and Dr. Aliu Abdul Hamid, a civil engineer.
Others include Prof. Razak Abubakari of Tamale Technical University, Alhaji Alhassan Nbalba, former Chairman of the NDC-UK/Ireland Chapter, and Prof. Alidu Seidu, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana. The contest also features Hajia Muliaka Sualisu, Lawyer Sadat Harun Alhassan, entrepreneur Alhassan Osman Gomda, and Hajia Shamima Yakubu, the party’s Northern Regional Treasurer.
The diversity of the aspirants reflects both the political weight of the Tamale Central constituency and the deep interest the party’s grassroots have in who succeeds Dr. Murtala Muhammed. The NDC expects nominations to close on Sunday, August 24, 2025, with formal filing of papers scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Further Developments
While the NDC prepares for what is expected to be a heated internal contest, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) decided it will not field a candidate in the by-election. In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party explained that the resolution was adopted during a National Steering Committee meeting.
According to the statement, the decision was “influenced by the circumstances under which the Tamale Central seat has become vacant” and aimed at avoiding political tensions during a period of national mourning.
The NPP’s position has been welcomed by some as a sign of respect for the late legislator, who served as both an MP and a cabinet minister in President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. For the NDC, however, it signals that the real contest will be within its own ranks, with twelve determined candidates competing for the nod.
It has been reported that Engineer Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu’s withdrawal was partly motivated by the unusually high number of aspirants who picked up forms on the first day of nominations, a development which pointed to a fiercely competitive race.
His exit, alongside that of Lawyer Halid Abdul Rauf, narrowed the contest but did little to reduce the intensity surrounding the primary.
The stakes are high not only because Tamale Central is considered a stronghold of the NDC, but also because the successor to Dr. Murtala Muhammed will be expected to carry forward his unfinished agenda while consolidating the party’s influence in the Northern Region.
According to the Electoral Commission’s timetable, nominations close on Sunday, August 24, 2025, while filing is set for Thursday, August 28, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Electoral Commission is expected to announce the full timetable for the by-election once the party concludes its nomination and vetting processes.
The upcoming primary is thus expected to be a decisive moment, testing both the unity of the NDC and its ability to rally behind a single candidate after an intraparty contest of this magnitude.
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