NDC demands end to re-collation, re-declaration of “disputed” parliamentary results

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and the security agencies to immediately halt the re-collation and re-declaration of all disputed parliamentary results.

According to the Party, it was “unaware” of the process which is currently ongoing at the Police Training School at Tesano, describing it as an “illegality.”

About nine parliamentary election results, including that of Fanteakwa North, Ablekuma North, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Tema Central, Techiman South and Suhum, are currently being contested by the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Results of about two of these constituencies such as Fanteakwa North and Suhum have been re-collated and winners re-declared in favour of the NPP.

Addressing a news conference in Accra, on Friday, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the NDC, said raised concerns about the re-collation and re-declaration of these results.

He explained that as a party it was “unaware” of the ongoing process, indicating that the procedure had no basis in the law as well as regulations governing the elections.

“We in the NDC believe that what is happening at the Police Training School amounts to illegality. It is not founded in any law of our elections, neither is it based on any consensus that have been reached between the parties and the Electoral Commission.” Mr Nketia said.

He explained that per the laws governing elections in the country, election results are counted, collated and declared at the polling stations.

Additionally, he said, per the laws governing the country’s electoral process, the only channel to challenge declared results was the court, urging aggrieved parties to seek redress using the legal process to promote peace.

“We know, the process of our election is quite clear. After voting, votes are counted and the results entered on what we call the result declaration form or the pink sheet and the presiding officer proceeds to announce the outcomes at the polling station after which all party agents sign and then are given copies of the results.

“The reason is that everybody will be having the same figures simultaneously. That is one of the most important checks in our elections and that is why we always say that elections are won or lost at polling stations,” he stressed.

Mr Nketia also noted that the law mandated only the returning officer at the constituency level to announce the results of parliamentary elections, cautioning regional officers of the EC to desist from announcing the results of parliamentary elections.

“Those returning officers who have declared one result and are claiming that they did that under duress can face consequences,” he warned.

He cautioned the EC and all persons involved to immediately halt the process, warning that individuals involved could be made to face the law.

He added that the NDC had secured a court injunction to halt the process, adding that the EC and security agencies had been served.

“We want to inform the nation and to give notice to any official of the Commission and the Police who are involved in the perpetuation of that illegality to know that there could be consequences,” he added.

On the casualties recorded during the 2024 election, Mr Nketia said the incoming NDC government would probe the cause of the deaths and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Source: GNA

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