Civil society group Democracy Hub has filed a suit at the High Court requesting an injunction to stop the Ayawaso East Constituency by-election, citing claims of vote buying and inducement during the National Democratic Congress parliamentary primaries held on February 7, 2026.
In the lawsuit, the NDC has been named as the first defendant, the Electoral Commission of Ghana as the second, and the Attorney-General of Ghana as the third.
Democracy Hub is asking the court to nullify the Electoral Commission’s recognition of Mr. Baba Jamal as the NDC candidate and to restrain the Commission from accepting or acting on his nomination until a fresh primary is conducted in accordance with democratic principles. The group specifically seeks a mandamus order compelling the Commission to refuse to accept or act upon Mr. Jamal’s nomination unless and until a legitimate primary is held.
The suit further requests a formal declaration that the NDC primary was marked by widespread vote buying, inducement, and monetisation, asserting that relying on its outcome to present a candidate contravenes Article 55(5) of the Constitution and Section 9 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574). Democracy Hub contends that the party’s failure to address the alleged misconduct renders its actions inconsistent with constitutional and legal requirements.
The controversy revolves around Mr. Baba Jamal, the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso East, who has been accused of participating in vote buying during the primaries. Mr. Jamal has consistently denied the allegations. Following the complaints, a three-member NDC committee investigated the claims and submitted a report, which informed the party’s decision to uphold the primary results. The party cited compliance with legal obligations, constitutional provisions, and Electoral Commission deadlines for candidate nomination as reasons for retaining Mr. Jamal’s candidacy.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the Ayawaso East by-election for March 3, 2026. The High Court filing by Democracy Hub adds a new dimension to the electoral process, potentially affecting the timeline and raising questions about the integrity of party primaries, the enforcement of constitutional standards, and the mechanisms for addressing alleged electoral malpractice in Ghana.
