More than 430 aspirants have been elected unopposed following the National Democratic Congress (NDC) constituency-level vetting exercise, the party’s Director of Elections and IT, Mahdi Jibril, has disclosed.
Mr Jibril said the development follows the completion of the vetting process in several constituencies across the country, with a number of aspirants emerging as the sole candidates for their respective positions.
Speaking on the party’s ongoing internal electoral arrangements, he said the successful aspirants were now preparing to begin or continue their campaigns ahead of the constituency elections.
He explained that the party’s focus was not only on completing the vetting process but also on ensuring that the subsequent elections were conducted in a manner that gives all qualified aspirants a fair opportunity to participate.
According to him, aspirants who are dissatisfied with decisions taken during the vetting process have been given avenues to petition the appropriate party structures and seek redress.
Mr Jibril said the appeals process forms an important part of the exercise, particularly in cases where aspirants believe their concerns were not adequately addressed during vetting.
He disclosed that the Eastern Region has a separate appeals arrangement, with hearings scheduled for September 30 to allow affected aspirants to present their cases.
He added that other regions were expected to conclude their appeals processes earlier, with the party working to address outstanding petitions before the final stages of the constituency elections.
Mr Jibril further indicated that the NDC expects to complete its constituency-level elections by October 24 or 25, although individual constituencies may have different arrangements depending on their circumstances.
He said the party would communicate the relevant dates and arrangements to constituencies to ensure that members, delegates and aspirants are adequately informed ahead of the polls.
The Director of Elections and IT also said the party was monitoring campaign activities to ensure that aspirants conducted themselves responsibly and complied with the guidelines governing the internal elections.
He urged contestants to respect the party’s electoral procedures and use the established channels to resolve disagreements instead of allowing disputes to affect the electoral process.
Mr Jibril also touched on developments in the Eastern Region, explaining that party members had planned a special programme to recognise one of their own and bring members together.
He said the programme would also provide an opportunity for national party leaders to participate and support the initiative.
Beyond the constituency elections, Mr Jibril said the NDC would proceed with subsequent stages of its internal electoral calendar, including preparations for regional-level elections and other national electoral activities.
He expressed confidence in the arrangements so far and wished all aspirants well as they compete for various positions within the party.
He again urged all contestants to conduct their campaigns responsibly, respect one another and adhere to the party’s electoral guidelines as the NDC progresses with its internal elections.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah
