Democracy Hub has instituted legal proceedings at the High Court, seeking to suspend the forthcoming Ayawaso East by-election.
The non-partisan organisation asserts that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries, held on February 7, 2026, were marred by allegations of vote buying.
Named as defendants in the suit are the NDC as the first respondent, the Electoral Commission (EC) as the second respondent, and the Attorney-General as the third respondent.
Democracy Hub is praying the court nullifies the EC’s recognition of Mr. Jamal as the NDC candidate and restrains the Commission from accepting or acting on his nomination until a fresh primary, conducted in accordance with democratic principles, is held.
“An order of mandamus directed at the 2nd Defendant to refuse to accept or act upon the nomination of the said candidate unless and until a primary conducted in accordance with democratic principles is held.”
It is also seeking a declaration that the NDC primary was characterised by widespread vote buying, inducement, and monetisation, and that relying on its outcome to present a candidate breaches Article 55(5) of the Constitution and Section 9 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).
“A declaration that the parliamentary primary conducted by the 1st defendant for the Ayawaso East Constituency, having been found to have been characterised by widespread vote buying, inducement and monetisation, did not conform to the democratic principles required under Article 55(5) of the Constitution, and that the continued reliance on the outcome thereof and the presentation of a candidate founded on that process constitute actions contrary to and inconsistent with the Constitution in violation of section 9 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).”
It further claimed that the failure of the NDC to address the alleged misconduct renders its actions inconsistent with constitutional and legal requirements.
The National Democratic Congress endorsed Mohammed Baba Jamal as its candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election despite allegations of vote-buying.
The party’s General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, stated that annulling the primaries was not feasible due to constitutional and time constraints.
A new committee has been formed to develop reforms to prevent vote-buying in future party contests.
