Anthony Nukpenu (L) says Mahama Ayariga, NDC MPs have ‘no locus’ to demand for a rerun of primaries
The Greater Accra Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, Anthony Nukpenu, has slammed the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and members of his caucus over their demand for the annulment of the results of the party’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primaries.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on February 9, 2026, Nukpenu said that the NDC members have no right to make such a demand.
He asserted that the actions of his party’s legislators undermine the authority of the party’s leadership and should never have happened.
“They are ‘locusless.’ They have no locus. We all must be careful… In a responsible political party, once the general secretary communicates on an issue, nobody has the locus to do the same.
“With what they have done, the youth wing of the party can also issue a statement, the women’s wing can also issue one, same as the diaspora caucus, the Zongo caucus. Is that how we run a party?”
He further added, “What is this? The general secretary, after consultation with the leadership, the political committee and everything, was directed to issue and say this is the way of the party. What is their locus in this?”
The NDC Greater Accra regional organiser also accused the party’s MPs of being hypocritical.
He asserted that all of them have engaged in the same thing they are now criticising.
“If you go somewhere and people are shouting ‘thief, thief,’ most of the time, the people shouting are the thieves. Which of them is not guilty of what has happened? So, what is this? Why won’t you leave the party to take the actions it wants to take, and you go out there to make this request?” he said.
About the primaries:
Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed emerged winner of the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primaries in the Ayawaso East Constituency.
According to final results, Baba Jamal secured 431 votes to defeat his closest contender, Hajia Amina Adam, who polled 399 votes.
Mohammed Ramne obtained 88 votes, and Dr Yakubu Azimdow garnered 45 votes, while Najib Sani received one vote.
The primaries, which attracted more than 1,100 accredited delegates from across the constituency, were held amid reports of alleged inducement and vote-buying.
In a statement issued on Saturday, February 7, 2026, the NDC confirmed it had been notified of incidents of vote-buying and inducement involving some aspirants and opened an investigation into the allegations.
The party described the alleged acts as a direct violation of its core values and principles, stressing its commitment to upholding internal democracy and discipline.
Following his victory, Baba Jamal is expected to lead the NDC into the March 3 parliamentary by-election as the party seeks to retain the Ayawaso East seat.
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