NDC rules out deadline extension for govt appointees seeking party positions

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reaffirmed that government appointees who failed to resign by the stipulated deadline to contest the party's internal elections will not be granted any extensions or exemptions.

The party had directed all eligible government appointees intending to seek internal party positions to step down from their offices at least six clear months before nominations opened. That deadline expired in May 2026.

The directive applied to Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors and their deputies, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

Acting Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, Mahdi Jibril, disclosed that only three government appointees affected by the directive complied by resigning from their positions.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr Jibril stressed that the party would strictly enforce the rule and would not entertain requests for extensions from appointees who failed to meet the deadline.

“Whoever is in office after May is not qualified to contest the elections. Any CEO or Managing Director, if you are contesting the election at the national level, should resign from their position by now,” he stated.

His comments reinforce the party's resolve to apply its internal regulations uniformly as preparations continue for the upcoming internal elections.