The Electoral Commission (EC), in a statement dated Friday, September 12, announced a reopening of nominations for Tamale Central after two candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day, Wednesday, September 10. Following the expiry of this ten-day window, the Commission, as mandated by CI 127, declared Professor Alidu Mahama Seidu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the winner of the Tamale Central by-election, after he emerged as the sole candidate in the race.

Regulation 46(1) of CI 127 states: “Where at the close of nominations only one person stands nominated, the Returning Officer shall declare that person duly elected without a poll.”

In light of this, the Returning Officer for the Tamale Central Constituency, Mr. Muniru Musah, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in Tamale, declared Professor Seidu as the replacement for the late Environment Minister and Member of Parliament for the constituency.

“As it stands, only Prof. Alidu Seidu Mahama stands nominated, and according to CI 127, he shall be declared elected,” Mr. Musah stated.

Following Prof. Seidu’s triumph in the NDC’s primaries, he was initially expected to contest the seat with two other party opponents—Abdallah Salifu of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Abubakari Abdul-Rahman of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG). However, both withdrew from the race on Wednesday, September 10.

In response, the EC reopened nominations for 10 days, but no fresh contenders came forward. With the window closed and no challengers, Prof. Seidu was declared MP-elect without a single vote being cast.

While the University of Ghana professor has not made any formal statements following his victory, the NDC’s Deputy Regional Secretary, Ziblim Saaka, expressed gratitude to constituents and assured them of inclusive, development-driven leadership. He said the MP-elect will deliver on his promises and advance the party’s commitment to progress in Tamale Central.

“Prof. Alidu Mahama Seidu will be one of the best MPs to be elected to represent the good people of the Tamale Central constituency… By the end of four years, he will be one of the best-performing MPs in Ghana.”

Prof. Seidu is expected to be sworn into Parliament in the coming days to assume his duties.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of the incumbent MP, Dr Alhaji Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who lost his life in a helicopter crash in August.

The NPP had earlier declared its intention not to participate in the upcoming by-election. According to a statement signed by the Party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the decision was taken by the Party at a National Steering Committee meeting held on Monday, August 11, at the Party Headquarters pursuant to Article 10(10)(1) of the Party Constitution.

The statement indicated that their decision was the Party’s way of honouring Dr. Murtala Mohammed and the other crash victims.

In arriving at the decision, the Party considered many factors, including the circumstances under which the Tamale Central seat became vacant and the possibility of further polarisation of the country at this critical time. The NPP argued that it would be inhumane and unconscionable to subject the nation to competitive processes in search of a replacement for the departed MP.

The Party added that the tension and acrimony often associated with by-elections in the country should be avoided.

“It is the considered view of the Party that the greatest tribute that the NPP and the rest of the nation can pay in honour of the departed, is not only to win the fight against Galamsey but also to ensure a smooth and peaceful replacement for the good people of Tamale Central.

“Consequently, the NPP hereby announces that when the Electoral Commission of Ghana opens nominations for the Tamale Central by-election in line with Article 112 (5) of Ghana's Constitution, the Party will, in accord with the national interest, not take part in the contest,” parts of the statement read.

Professor Alidu Seidu Mahama, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department, was elected by NDC delegates as the Party’s candidate for the Tamale Central parliamentary primaries.

His victory was officially announced by Electoral Commission officials at the Alhaji Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium on September 6.

According to the results, he secured 840 votes out of 1,511 valid ballots cast, beating 11 other contenders in what was described as a hotly contested race.

His closest challenger, former Tamale Metropolitan Assembly Mayor Abdul Hanan Gundadoo, polled 536 votes, while the remaining candidates shared the rest of the ballots.

A total of 1,511 delegates out of 1,551 registered cast their votes; one ballot was rejected. Prof. Alidu Seidu Mahama secured a commanding lead with 840 votes, followed by Abdul Hanan Gundadoo with 536.

The remaining candidates received the following: Dr. Seidu Fiter Mohammed (44), Ing. Aliu Abdul Hamid (23), Alhassan Mbalba (10), Dr. Abdul Rahaman Rashid (9), Sadat Haruna (9), Alhassan Osman Gomda, aka Naa Simani (7), Shamima Yakubu (5), Mariama Naana Salifu (5), Prof. Abdul Razak Abubakari (4), and Muleika Salisu (3).

Following his declaration as the winner, Prof. Seidu expressed his gratitude to the delegates for their support and trust in his leadership.

“I am deeply grateful to the party, the delegates, and my fellow aspirants for the clean and competitive campaign we all ran. This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to every member of this great party who believes in unity, progress, and service,” the UG professor said.

On August 29, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) cleared 12 out of 16 aspirants who picked up nomination forms to contest the Tamale Central parliamentary primary after the completion of the vetting process.

The NDC had opened nominations on August 21 for aspirants seeking to contest the Tamale Central Constituency primary.

Nomination forms were made available at the Northern Regional Office of the Party from Friday, August 22, to Sunday, August 24, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day.

Prospective aspirants were expected to pay a non-refundable nomination fee of GH¢5,000 and a filing fee of GH¢40,000, to be paid in cash only into the Party’s official account at UMB Bank, Adabraka Branch. No cheques or bankers’ drafts were accepted, the Party announced.

Female aspirants and persons with disabilities were entitled to a 50 percent reduction on the filing fee. A certified copy of the delegates' list was to be made available to all aspirants after the vetting process.

Aside from being a political scientist, Prof. Seidu Alidu once headed the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana. At the Water Resources Commission, he currently serves as Executive Secretary. In 2014, he received a scholarship from the Donahue Institute to study U.S. Political Thought at the University of Massachusetts.

He has lectured at 12 universities across Africa, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Dar es Salaam, University of Nairobi, and the University of Botswana. Prof. Alidu is a respected scholar who has contributed research to many renowned journals in areas such as peace, justice, politics, and African development.

He has also consulted for organisations including PASGR, the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen, IDS at the University of Sussex, the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, UNDP, the Varieties of Democracy Project, and the Social Science Research Council. Prof. Alidu is a former MIASA Fellow on Parliaments and Democracy in Africa.