The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) faces renewed questions about its internal cohesion, grassroots representation, and electoral preparedness after its constituency executive elections, where anger, perceived neglect, and dissatisfaction with local leadership are said to have shaped voting patterns.
The elections, held on Saturday, October 24, and continuing into Sunday, October 25, 2026, have exposed internal fault lines as the governing party prepares to defend its parliamentary majority and retain the presidency in the 2028 general elections.
The Herald has gathered reports of sweeping changes in several constituencies, with some losing almost all their executive leadership. In some cases, all 28 incumbent executives reportedly lost their positions, signalling deep discontent among parts of the party’s grassroots membership.
In other constituencies, only a handful of incumbents retained their positions, while some executive teams survived largely through the support of their Members of Parliament (MPs).
The emerging picture suggests the elections were about more than selecting local party officers. For many delegates, the exercise offered an opportunity to express frustration over unmet expectations, limited access to opportunities and dissatisfaction with the management of party resources.
Issues believed to have influenced voting included expectations of employment opportunities, equitable access to government-supported programmes, including fertilizer distribution and the Nkoko Nkitinkiti poultry initiative, as well as concerns about internal party cohesion and the economic circumstances of members.
Some party members are understood to have expected constituency executives to facilitate access to opportunities and strengthen communication between grassroots supporters and the Mahama government. Where such expectations were not met, incumbents appear to have faced the consequences at the ballot box.
Other complaints centred on alleged mismanagement of party resources, poor human relations, the denial of opportunities to qualified constituents, and claims that some job slots were being sold rather than allocated fairly.
These allegations have not been independently established in every case. Nevertheless, they form part of the broader discontent that appears to have shaped the contests.
The results have also raised questions about the influence of MPs in constituency-level elections and whether the fortunes of incumbent executives are increasingly tied to perceptions of their parliamentary representatives.
Reports from Afadjato South and South Dayi in the Volta Region, where Frank Afriyie and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor are MPs, respectively, suggest that candidates associated with the sitting MPs performed strongly, with several of their preferred candidates retaining their positions.
The picture was different in Anlo, Ketu South, South Tongu, and Keta, where many candidates reportedly backed by MPs Richard Kwame Sefe, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Maxwell Kwame Lukutor, and Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey suffered defeats.
The contrasting outcomes suggest that the influence of MPs varies from constituency to constituency and may depend on their relationships with delegates, their perceived responsiveness to local concerns, and the performance of the executives they support.
Where incumbents are seen as delivering opportunities and maintaining strong relationships with party members, their positions may be protected. Conversely, perceived neglect or dissatisfaction with local leadership can weaken their prospects, even when they enjoy the backing of influential party figures.
Political observers say the results could serve as an early indication of the challenges some MPs may face in securing renomination and retaining their seats in 2028. However, constituency executive elections do not necessarily predict the outcomes of subsequent parliamentary contests, which are influenced by a wider range of factors.
The results may also indicate the alliances and grievances likely to shape the party’s forthcoming regional and national executive elections on Saturday, 14th, and Sunday, 15th, November, and Saturday, 19th, December, although some candidates in those contests are expected to go unopposed.
Enthusiasm for the constituency elections was high, with substantial delegate turnout in several areas. However, the exercise was accompanied by reports of violence, alleged electoral irregularities, logistical difficulties, and disputes over voting procedures.
Reports from Odododiodio in the Greater Accra Region, Nkwanta North in the Oti Region, Sefwi Akontombra in the Western North Region, and Atwima Kwanwoma and Oforikrom in the Ashanti Region have raised questions about electoral administration, the credibility of internal processes and the party’s ability to resolve disputes.
Although the incidents do not establish that the nationwide exercise was compromised, they present the NDC’s national leadership, led by outgoing National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, with an important challenge: ensuring that the elections strengthen, rather than undermine, its preparations for 2028.
Constituency executives occupy strategic positions in the party’s grassroots structure. They are expected to mobilise supporters, coordinate local campaigns, communicate party policies, and maintain relationships between the national leadership and local members.
Their effectiveness will be critical as the NDC seeks to consolidate its organisation and prepare for the next general election.
One of the key concerns emerging from the elections is the credibility of the electoral process. In Nkwanta North, voting for the Deputy Women’s Organiser position was suspended following a dispute over the order of candidates on the ballot paper.
An aspirant, Madam Victoria, alleged that she had secured first place in the official balloting process but discovered on election day that her opponent had been listed first on the printed ballots.
She claimed that the change had disrupted her campaign strategy, which had been built around her original position on the ballot.
The suspension of the election highlighted the need for effective checks to ensure that printed ballot papers accurately reflect the arrangements agreed upon during the official balloting process.
Although the allegation requires investigation, the controversy illustrates how administrative discrepancies can undermine contestants’ confidence in an internal election.
For the NDC, the issue extends beyond the immediate contest. If aspirants and their supporters lose confidence in the process, disputes could persist after the elections and complicate efforts to unite the party.
Reported violence at Odododiodioo and disturbances in Sefwi Akontombra have also highlighted the importance of protecting ballot papers and ensuring the orderly completion of voting and counting.
At Odododiodioo, sorting and counting were suspended after disturbances reportedly broke out following the close of polls. Videos circulating online appeared to show a police officer carrying a ballot box while individuals pursued him and attempted to seize it.
The circumstances surrounding the incident require clarification, including what triggered the disturbance and whether the integrity of the ballots was affected.
In Sefwi Akontombra, reports alleged that suspected macho men snatched ballot papers during counting. Police officers were seen attempting to restore order, with footage reportedly showing warning shots being fired into the air.
Such disturbances create an additional burden for election administrators, who must ensure that ballots remain secure and that final results can be verified.
The NDC will need to demonstrate that incidents involving intimidation or interference are investigated impartially and that appropriate corrective action is taken where wrongdoing is established.
In Atwima Kwanwoma, some aggrieved delegates accused individuals involved in compiling the delegates’ album of removing the names of qualified voters and replacing them with those of unqualified persons to favour certain aspirants.
Beyond the immediate electoral disputes, the NDC faces the challenge of reconciling competing factions after the results have been declared.
Former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini has urged the party to unite successful and unsuccessful aspirants, warning that unity is essential as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.
Builsa South MP Dr Clement Abas Apaak has similarly congratulated elected executives while urging them to exercise humility and magnanimity in victory.
He has also encouraged unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party, stressing that losing an internal contest does not diminish their value or contribution.
Their appeals reflect the importance of retaining the participation of experienced party members after competitive internal elections.
Tanko-Computer also urged contestants with grievances to exhaust the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms, beginning with election committees at polling-centre and constituency levels before escalating unresolved matters to the national election committee.
Source: Ghanaweb
