The Tamale Metropolitan Presiding Membership elections held on March 5, 2026, have ended without a clear winner. The election, supervised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, saw two candidates, Fuseini Okasha and Iddrisu Ibrahim, vying for the position. Despite a keenly contested election, neither candidate managed to secure the required two-thirds majority of 42 votes.
Incumbent PM, Fuseini Okasha, garnered 27 votes, while Iddrisu Ibrahim surprised many by securing 30 votes, with one spoiled ballot recorded. As a result, the contest will proceed to a second round, as neither candidate met the threshold. The two candidates had previously contested for the position two years ago, with Okasha emerging victorious after his opponent stepped down.
The current impasse is attributed to Okasha’s refusal to step down despite trailing behind Ibrahim. This decision is reportedly in breach of a consensus built among Assembly Members prior to the election, which agreed on a simple majority rule. Speculations suggest that the Mayor of Tamale endorses Okasha’s candidature, while Ibrahim enjoys majority support from Assembly Members.
The Electoral Commission has suspended the election indefinitely due to the deadlock, citing difficulty in reaching a common ground. The development has left the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly without a clear leader, with the outcome of the election still uncertain.
The election was expected to be a straightforward process, but the unexpected turn of events has thrown the Assembly into uncertainty. The situation is being closely watched, with stakeholders hoping for a resolution that will ensure the smooth functioning of the Assembly.