Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed, has stated that he has taken a 10-day leave to focus on the NDC parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East, rejecting calls for his resignation.

Baba Jamal is one of six aspirants who have picked nomination forms to contest the primary ahead of the March 3 by-election, following the death of the constituency’s MP, Mahama Naser Toure.

In an exclusive interview with Citi News on Sunday January 25, he noted that his decision to contest does not conflict with his diplomatic duties, stressing that his post would only be relinquished if he succeeds at the parliamentary bid.

He also appealed to delegates to consider his experience and capacity to drive change in the constituency.

Meanwhile, six aspirants have picked nomination forms to contest the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East ahead of the March 3 by-election.

They include the party’s constituency chairman, Mohammed Ramme; Hajia Amina Adam, wife of the late Member of Parliament; Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal; and Dr Yakubu Azindow.

The others are Najib Mohammed Sani and Salam Daru.

In an interview on the Citi News Digest, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, Rashid Tanko Computer, outlined activities leading up to the February 7 primary, describing the contest as an interesting one.

“At the close of nominations today, six persons picked nomination forms to contest the upcoming primaries. The wife of the late MP was the last person to pick nominations today. It is going to be a very interesting contest. The filing will be on January 27, which is Tuesday.

“We are waiting to see how many of them will bring their forms,” he said.

The late Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Mahama Naser Toure, died on January 4, 2026, following a short illness, leaving the parliamentary seat vacant.

Subsequently, Parliament declared the seat vacant, prompting the Electoral Commission (EC) to set a parliamentary by-election for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to fill the vacancy in accordance with the Constitution.