The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a firm and unambiguous reiteration of its standing directive, mandating that all government appointees must tender their resignations prior to filing for any position in the upcoming party executive elections. The party has categorically ruled out any exceptions to this non-negotiable rule.
Speaking on Citi News Digest on Saturday, July 25, 2026, the NDC’s Acting IT Director, Jibril Mahdi, left no room for ambiguity regarding the party’s stance. “Whoever is in office is not qualified to contest our elections,” Mahdi stated flatly, warning that any individual still occupying a government role would be automatically disqualified from the electoral process.
The directive comes as the NDC gears up for its national and regional executive elections, following the successful completion of its branch-level polls. Party leadership has made it clear that the resignation must be submitted before the nominations filing deadline, serving as a prerequisite for eligibility.
While social media has been abuzz with speculation over which officials are stepping down, Mahdi disclosed that the party headquarters is yet to receive formal documentation from the majority of the individuals reportedly resigning. “Officially, we have not received any notice from anybody that has resigned. Whatever we are hearing is based on social media information because, at party headquarters, we are not the appointing authority,” he explained.
However, Mahdi did confirm that the party has received official notices from a few key figures. These include the Eastern Regional Chairman and the Eastern Regional Communication Officer, as well as Leland Tay, who is contesting for the prestigious position of National Chairman.
Addressing widespread speculations about potential waivers for high-ranking officials, Mahdi dismissed any prospects of special exemptions. “For now, whoever is still in office is automatically ineligible to contest as it stands,” he asserted, adding that the party has not received any formal requests for exceptions.
This uncompromising stance carries significant political weight, given that the NDC currently forms the government. Consequently, the rule directly impacts several government functionaries who were reportedly eyeing key party positions while retaining their lucrative public sector appointments. The directive is designed to uphold party discipline, prevent conflicts of interest, and ensure a clear separation between state duties and internal party politicking—a critical measure as the NDC prepares to restructure its leadership for the upcoming political cycle.
With the official filing and vetting process on the horizon, the party headquarters is expected to officially verify the status of all prospective candidates in the coming days. According to party insiders, only those who can present formal resignation letters and have successfully vacated their government posts will be cleared to proceed to the ballot.
