Professor Alidu Seidu Mahama, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, has emerged as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Tamale Central following a decisive victory in the party’s primaries.
The by-election was necessitated by the sudden death of sitting MP, Alhaji Murtala Muhammed, who perished in a helicopter crash along with seven others earlier this year.
The primary, held at the Alhaji Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, drew a strong field of 12 aspirants, including three women, all hoping to continue the late MP’s legacy and represent the constituency in the upcoming general elections.
When the ballots were counted, Prof. Seidu Alidu secured a commanding win with 840 votes. His closest contender, former Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Mayor Abdul Hanan Gundadoo, managed 536 votes, while the other ten candidates collectively shared the remaining ballots.
Electoral Commission officials declared the results to loud cheers from supporters, sealing Prof. Seidu’s place as the NDC candidate.
The victory, described by many as both decisive and symbolic, positions him as the frontrunner to retain the seat for the NDC in one of its traditional strongholds.
The Deputy National Communication Director of the NDC, Ako Gunn, praised the conduct of the polls, describing them as transparent and credible.
“So far, so very good, and we hope this election ends peacefully. At the end of the day, we expect all the other 11 aspirants to rally behind the winner.”
Deputy National Communication Director of the NDC, Ako Gunn
Prof. Seidu himself expressed humility in his acceptance, acknowledging the spirit of camaraderie shown by his fellow aspirants, many of whom congratulated him warmly after the results were announced.
The mood at the stadium reflected relief and optimism, with party officials and supporters agreeing that unity was paramount going into the general election.
A Scholar Steps Into Politics
Prof. Seidu Alidu is widely respected in academia and policy circles, with an impressive career spanning teaching, research, and advisory work across Africa and beyond.
Currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department, he also serves as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Asian Studies.
He has held prestigious fellowships, including serving as a Donahue Institute Scholar on United States Political Thought at the University of Massachusetts in 2014, and as a Maria Sibylla Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) fellow on Parliaments and Democracy in Africa.
His academic footprint extends across the continent. He is a visiting lecturer to twelve Master of Research and Public Policy (MRPP) universities in Africa, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Dar-es-Salam, University of Nairobi, and the University of Botswana.
Prof. Seidu has also collaborated with global and regional policy think tanks such as the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) in Nairobi, the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen in the Netherlands, the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Sussex, the Institute for Democratic Governance in Ghana, Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, and the United Nations Development Programme.
In addition, he has worked with the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, the German-African Governance Partnership, and the Social Science Research Council in New York.
His scholarly publications cover a wide range of political and governance issues, appearing in journals such as Peace Review, Criminal Justice Studies, Transitional Justice Review, Journal of African Political Economy and Development, Contemporary Journal of African Development, and Ghana Studies.
Charting a New Course for Tamale Central
For residents of Tamale Central, Prof. Seidu’s victory represents both continuity and change. Continuity, in that the NDC has once again chosen a candidate with deep roots in the community and the intellectual heft to carry forward the late Alhaji Murtala Muhammed’s vision.
Change, in that Prof. Seidu brings a technocratic and academic perspective to grassroots politics, with many constituents hopeful that his background will translate into effective representation and advocacy in Parliament.
As one party supporter put it at the close of the primary, “We have lost a great man in Murtala, but today, Tamale Central has found another leader who will serve us with knowledge and integrity.”
Political watchers suggest that his expertise in governance, democracy, and institutional reform could shape his legislative agenda, particularly in areas of public accountability, youth empowerment, and education.
His ability to combine academic rigor with practical policy solutions may also prove valuable in positioning Tamale Central as a model constituency under the NDC banner.
As the dust settles on the primary, attention now turns to the general election, where the NDC will seek to consolidate its stronghold in Tamale Central.
With Prof. Seidu Alidu at the helm, the party appears poised to rally its base while projecting a forward-looking vision rooted in both experience and scholarship.
For a constituency that has endured the shock of losing a beloved MP, the emergence of a respected academic as a candidate offers renewed hope.
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