The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to declare Professor Alidu Seidu of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the new Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, following the closure of nominations for the constituency’s by-election.
The nomination deadline, which expired at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, passed without any other political party or independent aspirant submitting forms to contest the seat.
According to the EC’s Northern Regional Director, Lucas Yiryil, the Commission reopened nominations for an additional ten-day period to encourage competition, but no individual expressed interest. This development leaves Prof. Seidu as the sole candidate, automatically making him MP-elect without the need for an electoral contest.
Mr. Yiryil noted that the EC will issue an official statement to confirm Prof. Seidu’s election and cancel the scheduled by-election a situation he described as rare in Ghana’s democratic process.
The by-election was triggered by the passing of incumbent MP Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed on August 6, 2025. Following constitutional requirements, the EC declared the seat vacant on August 19, 2025, and opened nominations to fill the vacancy.
Initially, three aspirants filed to contest, but two later withdrew, leaving Prof. Seidu as the only remaining candidate. Despite the extended window for new entrants, no additional nominations were received.
With the deadline now closed, Prof. Seidu is set to be officially declared the elected MP for Tamale Central without a ballot being cast.
