Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr Adomako Kissi, has admitted that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) decision not to contest the Tamale Central by-election is not a goodwill gesture because of the late MP’s death, but a calculated political strategy, as the seat is a stronghold of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, August 12, Dr Kissi explained that the party’s assessment shows that winning the seat was highly unlikely, making it unwise to commit resources to the contest.

“This is not necessarily about the death. The numbers for specifically Tamale Central are not favourable, and I think that as a serious country, all the hustle related to a by-election won’t be worth it. Some places are very strongholds for a particular party, no doubt.

“From time in history, it has been NDC. The reality is that this seat has consistently been held by the NDC, and it will undoubtedly remain so. For lack of a better word, you choose your battles, so the NPP has chosen theirs. This is not a favour but a pragmatic decision made, and out of all of this, it is the future that matters,” he said.

His admission contrasts with the NPP’s official explanation that the decision was out of respect for the late Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Muhammed, and in line with the period of national mourning following the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.

Dr. Murtala Muhammed’s death in the Adansi Akrofuom crash created a vacancy in the constituency, triggering a by-election in accordance with Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution.

The NPP’s official position was contained in a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, indicating that the decision was taken during a National Steering Committee meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025, at its national headquarters.