The Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election, scheduled for March 3, 2026, has become a focal point of political discussion, particularly due to controversies surrounding the internal processes of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The by-election was necessitated by the passing of the incumbent Member of Parliament.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP), a key contender, has publicly affirmed its commitment to a clean electoral process, stating it will not resort to inducements to sway voters. Evans Nimako, the NPP's director of elections, expressed strong confidence in the party's candidate, Baba Ali Yussif, affectionately known as "Homeboy," predicting a massive turnout and victory on election day. Nimako explicitly contrasted the NPP's approach with allegations of past practices, stating, "We are not going to dish out money as they did." The NPP is banking on Yussif's deep local roots and acceptance within the constituency to secure the seat.

In contrast, the NDC's selection of Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed as its candidate, following a primary on February 7, 2026, has been marred by serious allegations of vote buying and delegate inducement. Claims surfaced that delegates were offered cash and other items, including television sets, during the primary. Baba Jamal Ahmed has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and pledged his full cooperation with investigations, emphasizing the critical importance of a credible and transparent process leading up to and on election day itself.

In response to these allegations, the NDC established an investigative committee, which included Inusah Fusseini, a lawyer and former Tamale Central MP. Fusseini, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, revealed the committee’s "unalloyed and firm conclusion" that there was "widespread illegality… the vote buying and inducement," and that this malfeasance "was not limited to one candidate." The committee's findings prompted a swift reaction, as these actions were deemed to violate numerous laws, including the Political Parties Act, the Representation of the People’s Act CI 127, the Criminal Code, and the Constitution, as well as the party’s own code of ethics, values, and philosophy.

Despite the clear findings of widespread illegality, the committee's recommendation for annulment of the primary results was presented with significant caveats, as highlighted by Fusseini. A major jurisprudential question arises: can a political party legally overturn the verdict of the Electoral Commission (EC) when the EC itself conducted, supervised, and certified the election results as credible? Fusseini emphasized that the EC's certification presents a fundamental legal obstacle. He warned that, from a governance perspective, annulling an EC-certified result could severely damage the sanctity and integrity of the Electoral Commission, suggesting it would be "destroying the sanctity and integrity of the Electoral Commission if you do that."

Fusseini further cautioned against addressing acts of impunity with what could be perceived as another act of impunity, questioning the logic of "deal[ing] with a wrong by acting wrongly." While acknowledging public demand for annulment, driven by a desire for political force, he stressed that any action must possess a robust legal basis. He noted that most political parties' constitutions do not include annulment powers, with Article 52 of the NDC's constitution being the closest provision allowing the National Executive Committee to act in unprovided-for matters. However, he clarified that the accepted legal route for overturning such results is typically through the courts.

Adding to the complexity, Fusseini pointed out practical time constraints. The committee submitted its report late on a Tuesday, and Wednesday was designated as the final day for parties to present their candidates to the EC. This tight deadline made it practically impossible to resolve such a multifaceted legal and procedural issue within 24 hours. Fusseini underscored that the manner in which the NDC addresses this controversy will significantly shape public perception and test the credibility of its promise to "do things differently," a mandate given by the electorate. Failure to handle these issues properly, he warned, could "sap the confidence" of the public and lead supporters to "draw their obvious conclusions."