Alidu Seidu wins Tamale Central NDC primaries 

Prof. Alidu Seidu has emerged as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Tamale Central following a commanding performance in the party’s primaries. The election brought to a close a week of vigorous campaigning across the constituency.

The primaries, held at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium, saw Prof. Seidu gather 840 votes out of 1,497 valid ballots, comfortably ahead of his closest rival, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, who received 536 votes. Other aspirants recorded significantly lower numbers. Dr. Seidu Fitter polled 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23, Alhassan Mbalba 10, Lawyer Sadat Haruna Fuseini 9, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Abdul-Rahaman 9, Alhassan Osman Gomda 7, Prof. Abdul-Razak Abubakari 5, Shamima Yakubu 5, Mariama Naama Salifu 5, and Hajia Mulaika Salisu 3. One ballot was rejected.

The contest came in the wake of the passing of the late MP, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, whose death in the August 6 military helicopter crash left the Tamale Central seat vacant. Party officials are now preparing for the by-election that will follow.

According to the returning officer, the process was conducted smoothly, with high turnout from the 1,555 expected delegates and only one rejected ballot recorded.

The primaries drew candidates from diverse professional backgrounds, including academics, lawyers, and entrepreneurs. Notably, three women — Hajia Mariama Naama Salifu, Hajia Mulaika Salisu, and Hajia Shamima Yakubu — contested the seat for the first time since 2014, adding a fresh dimension to the race.

With this outcome, Prof. Alidu Seidu is now positioned to lead the NDC in the Tamale Central by-election, where the party is expected to maintain its strong presence in the constituency.