The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially confirmed Mohammed Baba Jamal as its parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election. This decision was made despite unresolved allegations of vote-buying that emerged from the party’s recent parliamentary primary held on Saturday, February 7.

NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey announced the party's stance following a meeting of its Functional Executive Committee. This meeting convened after reviewing a report from a three-member investigative committee tasked with probing the allegations. Mr. Kwetey revealed that the committee's report ideally suggested an annulment of the primaries. However, several obstacles prevented this course of action.

According to Mr. Kwetey, the party's constitution lacks a provision for annulling an election. Furthermore, the NDC faced time constraints, needing to present a candidate to the Electoral Commission promptly. He also highlighted potential legal challenges that could be mounted by the winner if the primaries were annulled, a process the party could not afford to undergo without a swiftly nominated candidate. Consequently, the party had no alternative but to endorse Baba Jamal, who was declared the winner by the Electoral Commission.

The initial investigative committee had been formed to examine claims that aspirants, including Baba Jamal, offered inducements such as television sets and cash to delegates during the primary. Mr. Kwetey acknowledged that "inappropriate conduct was exhibited by virtually all the candidates" during the poll. In response to these issues, a new seven-member committee has been established to develop comprehensive reforms aimed at addressing and tackling vote-buying in future party contests.

Separately, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, the MP-elect for Ayawaso East, underwent interrogation at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Sources close to the investigation indicated that his mobile phones were seized as part of ongoing inquiries into the vote-buying allegations. Initially, it was understood that Mr. Jamal might spend the night in OSP custody as investigations continued, a development that drew significant public attention to the claims of inducement and gift-giving in the Ayawaso East contest.

Following several hours of questioning, the OSP released Baba Jamal on self-recognisance bail. His lawyer, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, confirmed the release and stated that his client was interrogated not only over the alleged vote-buying but also concerning an alleged assault on an OSP officer who was dispatched to serve an invitation letter. Counsel Adawudu maintained that his client was unaware of any items allegedly being distributed in his name, emphasizing that as a lawyer, Mr. Jamal would have advised against such actions if he had known.