The first Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has told the newly sworn-in member of parliament for Ayawaso East, Baba Jamal, that he cannot afford to trust the Majority MPs.
According to the NPP MP, Baba Jamal cannot trust the NDC majority in parliament after they called for his disqualification over vote-buying claims made against him in the NDC’s primaries.
Habib Iddrisu further noted that only Asiedu Nketiah stood by Baba Jamal when some NDC MPs were demanding his removal as the parliamentary candidate.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on March 10, 2026, Habib Iddrisu stated, “It is very clear that our colleagues in the majority are now trying to save face after issuing a letter of no confidence in him. It was signed by the 189-member Majority Caucus.
“Mr Speaker, the letter that was signed by the regional caucuses of the majority representing the 189—Baba Jamal, they are not your friends. They don’t like you at all. You are welcome on our side,” he said.
“It is very obvious that the only friend Baba Jamal has in the NDC is the National Chairman of the party. The President fired him before he was declared, and the majority denied him before he was declared. The only person who stood by him was Asiedu Nketiah.
“When you observe what is actually going on in the chamber, I just want to advise Honourable Baba Jamal that even where he is seated is an indication that they do not like him at all,” he added.
In related news, Baba Jamal was officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East by Speaker Bagbin.
Speaking after administering the oath, Speaker Bagbin said, “You voluntarily offered yourself to serve the good people of the Ayawaso East Constituency. In your campaign, you stated that you want to serve them as a member of Parliament,” he told Baba Jamal.
“You are going to serve Ghana, and not as a High Commissioner; I am going to hold you as my son. I will hold you accountable to the good people of the Ayawaso East constituency,” the Speaker added.
Meanwhile, Baba Jamal was declared the winner of the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election after the close of polls on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
At the constituency collation centre, St Kizito Catholic Church in Nima, the EC returning officer declared that Baba Jamal won the election with over 10,884 votes, representing over 63%.
Baba Ali Yussif, the NPP candidate, came in second with 4,009 votes, and independent candidate Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Sanda came third with 1,885 votes.
In total, 17,048 people voted in the by-election across 113 polling stations with 120 rejected ballots.
Speaking to the media after he was declared the winner of the by-election, Baba Jamal stated, “I dedicate this victory to my 93-year-old mother, who promised to support me and ensured that one day I would return to Parliament. Today, her vision and wish have come true. I thank Allah for her life. I also want to thank my wife and my children for their spirit of endurance and the sacrifices they have made”.
“I thank Almighty Allah for granting us this victory. This win is not for me alone; it is for the good people of Ayawaso East. I appreciate them for the confidence they have shown in me by electing me as their parliamentary candidate.
“I also extend special thanks to the national executives of the NDC, including the chairman and the general secretary, as well as the Greater Accra regional executives,” he added.
Watch the video below:
"Baba Jamal, they are not your friends, they don't like you at all." – 1st Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, says the Ayawaso East MP cannot afford to trust the other Majority MPs who called for his disqualification over vote-buying claims made against him in the NDC's… pic.twitter.com/Sis1KSlnqM
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