The race to elect a candidate to contest the March 3 Ayawaso East Constituency parliamentary by-election on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reached fever pitch, with all the five aspirants desperately seeking to swing some votes in their favour.
Certainly, the stakes are high in this internal party contest since whoever emerges victorious in tomorrow's primary is a potential parliamentarian, given the NDC's stranglehold over the constituency.
Aspirants
The aspirants for the much-anticipated showdown are the widow of the late Member of Parliament (MP), Hajia Amina Adam; Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, and Dr Yakubu Azindow, both of whom contested the late MP in the last NDC parliamentary primary; Mohammed Ramne, Constituency Chairman, and Najib Mohammed Sani.
However, Mohammed Ramne, Hajia Amina Adam, Baba Jamal, Dr Azindow and Mohammed Sani will follow in that order on the ballot paper for the election.
That notwithstanding, the contest has virtually been reduced to a three-horse race, as many NDC supporters tip Baba Jamal, Dr Azindow and Hajia Amina Adam as the hot favourites.
The last NDC parliamentary primary held in 2023 for the 2024 general election was won by the late MP, Naser Toure, who polled 452 votes, representing 44.93 per cent, to defeat Baba Jamal, who secured 309 votes, representing 30.72 per cent, and Dr Azindow, who obtained 242 votes, representing 24.06 per cent.
If that is anything to go by, then tomorrow’s election will be keen, especially considering the fact that the widow may sweep some sympathy votes.
Delegates
Over 1,100 delegates will congregate at the Nima Cluster of Schools, the heart of the constituency capital, to elect the party's candidate for the upcoming by-election.
“I see this election as a call to come and serve the good people of Ayawaso East,” Baba Jamal, who once served as a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said, adding that he would be the best choice to represent Ayawaso East and the NDC in Parliament.
Dr Azindow holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, USA, a Master's Degree in Comparative Politics and Public Policy, Canada and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Psychology, University of Ghana.
He described himself as a role model, community advocate, political leader and a visionary. He touts his grassroots connections and track record in local politics as keys to attracting development projects to the constituency.
Mohammed Ramne, the Ayawaso East NDC Constituency Chairman, expressed confidence of emerging victorious in the party's primary, citing his achievements and proven track record as his trump card.
He said his message of continuity and delivery was resonating with the delegates, while emphasising that his focus was to showcase his accomplishments and what he planned to do as MP, backed by evidence.
Najib Mohammed, for his part, said his decision to join the race was due to his commitment to serve the people of Ayawaso East, strengthen the unity of the party and contribute meaningfully to the NDC in Parliament.
He said his focus would be on education, women, youth empowerment, sports and recreation, saying, "In representation, Najib Mohammed Sani is helping the people, and on the ground the people believe in Najib to deliver."
Preparation
The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NDC, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, told the Daily Graphic that all was set for tomorrow's primary to elect a parliamentary candidate to contest on the party's ticket in the by-election.
He said the Ghana Police Service would be in charge of security while the Electoral Commission would supervise the election.
He revealed that all electoral materials were already in the constituency, and therefore appealed to the party’s supporters to conduct themselves well to ensure a smooth and peaceful process.
An earlier statement issued by the party's General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said the polls would start at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.