By: Hamza Lansah Lolly/ Baba Mohammed Issahaq
Fourteen (14) aspirants have officially picked nomination forms to contest the upcoming NDC parliamentary primary for the Tamale Central by-election.
The nomination forms was formally opened yesterday, Friday, August 22 and will be close on Sunday August 24, 2025.
The by-election was necessitated by the untimely death of the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim Murtala, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash earlier this month.
The aspirants who filed include:
1. Prof. Alidu Seidu
2. Sadat Haruna Alhassan
3. Osman Alhassan Gomda
4. Hajia Shamima Yakubu
5. Alhaji Ibrahim Seidu (Engineers)
6. Lawyer Halid Abdul Rauf
7. Dr. Seidu Mohammed (popularly known as Seidu Fitter)
8. Hon. Abdul Rahaman Hanan Gundadoo
9. Hajia Mulaika Sualisu
10. Alhaji Alhassan Mbalba
11. Mariama Naama Salifu
12. Dr. Abdul Rahaman Abdul Rashid
13. Dr. Aliu Abdul Hamid
14. Prof. Abdul-Razak Abubakari
In a gesture of respect for the late MP, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has withdrawn from the by-election. This decision effectively leaves the contest between the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and candidates from other political parties and independents.
The NDC national executive is expected to vet all aspirants before publishing the final list of qualified candidates for the party’s internal primaries, which will determine its official parliamentary candidate.
Political analysts say the by-election will serve as an important test of the NDC’s dominance in the constituency in the absence of the NPP. Key issues such as youth development, education, healthcare, and infrastructure are expected to dominate the campaign.
The Tamale Central constituency, regarded as a major political stronghold in the North, is already attracting national attention ahead of the poll.
