Accra: The Acting National Elections Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko-Computer, has dismissed the decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, describing their participation as a 'waste of time.' Speaking in an interview on TV3's Ghana Tonight, Tanko-Computer argued that electoral data from previous elections clearly favours the NDC, making it virtually impossible for the opposition party to overturn the party's dominance in the constituency.
According to Ghana Web, Tanko-Computer raised concerns about the NPP's electoral strategy. He pointed out that in the last election, the NDC secured over 22,000 votes, while the NPP garnered just over 9,000 votes. He emphasized that even if the NPP were to achieve 100 percent of their previous votes, they would still fall short of 19,000, while the NDC remains above 22,000. He suggested that the NPP risks damaging its public credibility if it continues with the contest, urging them to reconsider their participation in the by-election.
However, Tanko-Computer acknowledged the constitutional rights of opposition parties to participate in the by-election, especially given that the long-serving Member of Parliament, who held the seat for four consecutive terms, is no longer in the race. He remarked, "This is a man who held this constituency for four times, and he is now off the scene. So, you cannot take it away from a political party if they want to test their mettle."
The NDC elections director also mentioned that the party has yet to officially present its candidate, with more clarity expected after the close of nominations on February 7. The Ayawaso East by-election is scheduled to take place on March 3, 2026, following the sudden death of Naser Toure Mahama, the sitting Member of Parliament.