Mahama Ayariga Withdraws from NDC Ayawaso East Probe Committee
Majority Leader cites caucus stance on disputed parliamentary primary
- Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has withdrawn from the NDC’s Ayawaso East primary probe committee
- The February 7, 2026 parliamentary primary is being investigated over alleged vote buying and inducement
- The NDC’s three-member committee, chaired by Kofi Totobi Quakyi, is expected to submit its report by February 10, 2026
Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has stepped down from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) committee investigating alleged inducement and vote buying during the party’s Ayawaso East parliamentary primary.
Ayariga announced his withdrawal in a post on X, explaining that his decision aligns with the position of the NDC Majority Caucus in Parliament. The caucus has called for the cancellation of the primary and the disqualification of any candidates found to have engaged in unethical conduct.
He noted that he has formally notified the party leadership and requested that a suitable replacement be appointed to the three-member investigative committee.
The NDC parliamentary primary in Ayawaso East, conducted on February 7, 2026, has been overshadowed by allegations that some delegates received items such as television sets and boiled eggs, sparking claims of vote buying and inducement.
In response to the controversy, the party constituted a committee chaired by former Information Minister Kofi Totobi Quakyi, with Ayariga and lawyer Emefa Fugah serving as members. The committee has been tasked with probing the allegations and making recommendations, with its report expected by February 10, 2026.
The NDC has reiterated that the investigation underscores its commitment to transparency, internal democracy, and ethical political conduct, and is expected to recommend sanctions as well as reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
