The High Court in Accra has removed the final legal obstacle to the Ayawaso East by-election, dismissing a case that sought to invalidate the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary over allegations of vote buying.
In a decisive ruling delivered on Monday, March 2, Justice Agyenim-Boateng struck out the suit filed by the advocacy group Democracy Hub, describing the action as “incompetent.” The decision effectively ends the group’s attempt to block the NDC’s candidate, Baba Jamal, from contesting.
The by-election is set for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Democracy Hub had sued the NDC, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Attorney-General’s Department, arguing that the primary was “marred by vote buying” and therefore illegitimate. They asked the court to bar the EC from recognizing or processing Mr. Jamal’s nomination.
Lawyers for the NDC raised a preliminary objection, insisting the case was fundamentally defective and lacked proper legal standing. The court agreed, ruling that the originating processes were flawed. By striking them out, the judge dismissed the matter without examining the substance of the vote-buying claims.
Following Mr. Jamal’s victory in the primaries, accusations emerged that his campaign had used financial inducements to sway delegates. He has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining his innocence throughout both party and legal proceedings.
Before the court’s involvement, the NDC had already conducted an internal probe. A three-member committee reviewed the allegations of malpractice and ultimately upheld the primary results. Party officials explained that their decision was guided by “legal requirements, constitutional provisions, and nomination deadlines set by the EC.”
With the High Court’s ruling, attention now turns to the ballot. The Electoral Commission has confirmed that all preparations are complete for constituents of Ayawaso East to choose their new representative on Tuesday.
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