Story by Lawrence Odoom/ Phalonzy
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has categorically rejected the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to conduct a parliamentary rerun in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency.
According to Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the NPP, the party’s candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, rightfully won the election with a margin of 414 votes, and the EC should declare her the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North.
“We are resolute and we know that our candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, won the elections with a margin of 414 votes. This is based on facts and figures,” Frimpong asserted at a press briefing.
He emphasized that under no circumstances will the NPP participate in a rerun, maintaining that the party has won the elections and the EC should follow the court’s directive to finish the collation and declare Afriyie as the MP.
Kodua described the EC’s decision as unjust, urging the Commission to act in accordance with the facts and evidence presented during the electoral process. The NPP’s stance adds to the mounting political tension surrounding the contested constituency, with the party adamant that any further delay in declaring Afriyie as MP constitutes a violation of the electoral mandate of the constituents.
The EC’s decision to rerun the parliamentary election in 19 polling stations was based on irregularities in the collation process, specifically the absence of validation by some Presiding Officers on scanned results.
However, the NPP maintains that all necessary procedures were followed, and the party’s agents, along with EC officials, had duly verified and signed the results at the polling stations involved.
In a related development, the NPP has secured an interlocutory injunction to halt the EC’s planned rerun of parliamentary elections in the 19 polling stations, pending a court decision. This legal maneuver underscores the party’s determination to protect its electoral victory in the constituency.
