The contest to succeed the late Ayawaso East Member of Parliament, Mahama Naser Toure, has formally begun, with six aspirants picking up nomination forms to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary ahead of the March 3 by-election.
The seat became vacant following the sudden death of Mr. Naser Toure in early January 2026, prompting the Electoral Commission to schedule a by-election for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
For the NDC, Ayawaso East is regarded as a political stronghold, having remained firmly in the party’s grip since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1992.
Among the contenders is the late MP’s widow, Hajia Amina Adam, whose entry into the race has generated significant interest across the Nima and Maamobi communities.
While some observers view her candidacy as riding on public sympathy, her campaign team insists her decision is mission-driven rather than emotional. According to her aides, Hajia Adam entered the race after sustained appeals from community elders, women’s groups and grassroots supporters who want her to continue her late husband’s social and development initiatives.
She is presenting herself as a servant-leader with deep familiarity with the constituency’s needs and challenges.
Challenging the widow is seasoned politician and legal practitioner Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed, Ghana’s current Ambassador to Nigeria. The former Deputy Minister of Local Government is framing his bid as a homecoming, stressing his roots in Nima, despite his long-standing political association with the Akwatia constituency.
In the 2024 NDC primary, Baba Jamal mounted a strong challenge against the late Naser Toure, polling 525 votes against the incumbent’s 675.
“It is true, by God’s grace, I will contest in the Ayawaso East constituency by-election. I see it as a call to come and serve the good people of Ayawaso East,” he said on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme.
The NDC Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, confirmed that four other male aspirants have also joined the race:
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Dr Yakubu Azindow, a perennial contender who secured 215 votes in the 2024 primary;
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Mohammed Ramne, a grassroots mobiliser;
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Mohammed Abdul Salam, popularly known as Abdul Salam Daru, representing the youth wing;
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Najib Mohammed Sani, a rising figure within the constituency’s intellectual circles.
As preparations intensify, the NDC has outlined a tight schedule to produce a candidate ahead of the by-election:
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January 27 – Submission of nomination forms
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January 28 – Vetting, balloting and appeals
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February 7 – Parliamentary primary
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is reportedly considering its options ahead of the contest. The party’s General Secretary, Justin Koduah, has confirmed the NPP’s intention to participate in the by-election, although it remains unclear whether the party will re-present Zak Rahman or field a new candidate to challenge the NDC’s estimated 70 per cent dominance in the constituency.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
