BY Grace Zigah
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has reopened nominations for the upcoming Tamale Central by-election after two of the three candidates who initially filed to contest pulled out of the race.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 12, 2025, the Commission cited Article 50(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that if more than one candidate is nominated but only one remains before election day, a fresh nomination period of 10 days must be opened.
This measure is meant to ensure fairness and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.
New Nomination Window
The new nomination window will run from September 12 to September 21, 2025. During this period, prospective candidates are required to submit their forms at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the EC between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, and again from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from the EC’s official website (www.ec.gov.gh).
Each completed form must be endorsed by a proposer, a seconder, and at least 18 registered voters in the Tamale Central constituency.
Candidates are also required to attach two recent passport-sized photographs with a red background.
The filing fee for male candidates has been set at GH¢10,000, while female aspirants and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are to pay a reduced fee of GH¢7,500.
Additionally, all forms must be submitted in quadruplicate.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has already elected a candidate for the by-election.
In primaries held recently, the party selected Prof. Alidu Mahama Seidu to lead its campaign for the seat.
His election came in the wake of the tragic death of the late MP for Tamale Central, Alhaji Murtala Mohammed.
Murtala Mohammed, along with seven others, lost his life in a helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
His sudden death created a vacancy in Parliament, compelling the EC to schedule a by-election for the constituency.
Ensuring Competitive Elections
The reopening of nominations is aimed at widening the field of competition and avoiding a one-horse race in Tamale Central.
The EC has urged political parties, independent aspirants, and the general public to take note of the new timelines and abide by the nomination requirements.
