Prof. Seidu Mahama Alidu wins NDC Tamale Central primary
A Political scientist, Prof. Seidu Mahama Alidu, rode the storm of internal party competition to win the Tamale Central parliamentary primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a largely comfortable margin last Saturday.
The University of Ghana lecturer, who once headed the Department of Political Science of the institution, polled 840 votes out of 1,500 valid votes in the contest of 12 aspirants to win the race to lead the party in the September 30, 2025 parliamentary by-election.
Last Saturday’s primary happened exactly a month to the day of the passing of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, in the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven others.
In a constituency where the governing NDC has held a stranglehold over parliamentary dominance, Prof. Alidu’s triumph almost guarantees him a place in Parliament, with the upcoming by-election only a routine exercise to enter the legislature.
Besides, the opposition New Patriotic Party has indicated that it will not field a candidate for the by-election.
Prof. Alidu’s closest contender, Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, a former Chief Executive of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, garnered 536 votes.
The other candidates, who managed only single and double digit figures, were Dr Seidu Fiter Mohammed, 44 votes; Aliu Abdul-Hamid, 23 votes; Dr Abdul-Rahaman Abdul-Rashid, nine votes; Prof. Abdul-Razak Abubakari, four votes; Mariama Naama Salifu, five votes; Hajia Shamima Yakubu, five votes; Hajia Mulaika Salisu, three votes; Alhassan Osman Gomda, seven votes; Sadat Haruna Alhassan, nine votes, and Alhaji Alhassan Mbalba, 10 votes.
Victory speech
In his victory speech, Prof. Alidu expressed gratitude to the delegates for the confidence reposed in him.
“This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to the people of Tamale Central and to the memory of our late brother, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. I will serve with humility and dedication,” he stated.
He pledged to consolidate the gains of the late MP in the constituency when given the nod in the forthcoming by-election.
Supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission, the primary was generally peaceful and incident-free.
Voting took place at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium under a solemn atmosphere, reflective of the constituency’s mourning.
However, celebrations erupted immediately after results were announced, with supporters pouring onto the streets, chanting “Prof Alidu! Prof Alidu!” and waving party flags late into the night.
Profile
Prof. Alidu is the Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission and a Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana.
He was a Donahue Institute Scholar on United States’ Political Thought at the University of Massachusetts in 2014 and has lectured at 12 universities across Africa, including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Dar-es-Salaam, University of Nairobi and University of Botswana.
He is a former MIASA Fellow on Parliaments and Democracy in Africa, and has consulted for organisations, including PASGR, the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen, IDS at the University of Sussex, the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, UNDP, the Varieties of Democracy Project, and the Social Science Research Council.
Prof. Alidu has published widely on Peace Review, Criminal Justice Studies, Transitional Justice Review, Journal of African Political Economy and Development, Contemporary Journal of African Development, and Ghana Studies.
Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
