The Director of Elections and Information Technology of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Jibril, says the party has so far completed the vetting of aspirants in 90 constituencies as preparations continue for its upcoming internal elections.
Mr Jibril said the party had also resolved most of the concerns that emerged during the nomination and vetting processes, including issues concerning the filing of nomination forms, payment of filing fees, objections raised against aspirants and the interpretation of the party’s electoral guidelines.
He made the disclosure when he spoke on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme in Accra-Tema on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
According to Mr Jibril, the vetting exercise is being conducted across all 276 constituencies to determine whether aspirants have satisfied the requirements set out by the party to contest the internal elections.
Nomination process
Mr Jibril acknowledged that the nomination process had presented some challenges, particularly regarding the filing of forms and other requirements.
He said the party had taken steps to examine the concerns and investigate cases involving aspirants who were unable to complete their filing within the stipulated period.
He explained that the circumstances surrounding individual cases were considered, and where the applicable requirements were satisfied, some aspirants were given opportunities to regularise their nominations.
The NDC Director of Elections and IT added that the party also received objections against some aspirants during the nomination period and had mechanisms for examining and determining such matters.
He said the party’s approach was intended to ensure that concerns raised by aspirants and other party members were handled through the appropriate structures and in accordance with the applicable rules.
Constitution and electoral guidelines
Mr Jibril stressed that the NDC constitution and electoral guidelines remain central to the organisation of the internal elections.
He said some of the concerns that emerged during the process were linked to the interpretation of the party’s rules, including questions concerning the relationship between provisions in the party constitution and procedures governing the internal elections.
According to him, the party had reviewed and clarified the issues to help aspirants and party members understand the procedures that apply to the electoral process.
He said all participants must respect the established rules and should use the appropriate structures when they have concerns rather than attempting to circumvent the process.
Mr Jibril maintained that the party would continue to apply its constitution and electoral guidelines as the vetting exercise progresses.
Petitions and appeals
Touching on petitions, Mr Jibril said the party had created channels through which aspirants could seek redress when they were dissatisfied with decisions taken during the nomination or vetting process.
He explained that the party’s procedures provide avenues for concerns to be reviewed, including regional appeals processes and other mechanisms for dealing with outstanding matters.
He said a number of the concerns brought before the party had already been addressed, while efforts were continuing to resolve matters that remained outstanding.
Mr Jibril urged aspirants and their supporters to make use of the established party structures whenever disagreements arise.
He said following the appropriate channels would allow concerns to be examined within the party’s electoral framework and help prevent unnecessary disputes from affecting the process.
Lessons for future elections
Mr Jibril acknowledged that conducting a vetting exercise involving aspirants across all 276 constituencies was a major organisational undertaking and could come with logistical and procedural challenges.
He, however, said the party was dealing with the issues as they emerged and would continue to ensure that the process remained guided by its constitution and electoral guidelines.
He added that lessons from the current exercise would be useful in improving future internal elections, particularly in areas such as nomination procedures, communication with aspirants and the management of petitions and appeals.
With vetting completed in 90 constituencies, Mr Jibril said the exercise was continuing in the remaining constituencies as the NDC prepares for the next stages of its internal electoral process.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah