Five parliamentary candidates in the 2024 elections from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to collate and recollate the parliamentary results in their respective constituencies.
In their respective petitions dated Friday, December 13, 2024, and addressed to the Chairperson of the EC, the five parliamentary candidates insist that they were the rightful winners of the elections held in their constituencies.
While two of the candidates—Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah of Techiman South and Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh of Ablekuma North—are demanding the collation of the parliamentary results, which they say had unduly delayed, the three others want the EC to recollate the results on the basis that the initial collations were unlawful and in flagrant violation of electoral laws.
The three who are seeking the recollation of the results are Charles Forson—Tema Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah—Okaikwei Central, and Mike Aaron Oquaye Jnr—Dome-Kwabenya.
With regard to Techiman South, Mr. Korsah is demanding the collation of the election results, which had not been done despite polls closing almost a week ago.
He has therefore called on the chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, to immediately direct the returning officer for the constituency to collate the election results and declare the winner.
“I am making a demand on you as the chair of the commission to direct the returning officer of the Techiman South Constituency to collate and declare the winner of the Techiman South parliamentary elections,” he said in the petition.
Ablekuma North
For Ablekuma North, Nana Akua Afriyieh claims that after the close of polls on December 7, her representatives were attacked by some people, while others also snatched the EC’s copies of the statement of results sheets (pink sheets).
The EC returning officer, she explained, was also under duress to declare the results in favour of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate.
“I have attached the scanned copies of all 281 pink sheets, which show that I won the election with a margin of 411 votes. The results are as follows: Nana Akua Owusu Afriyich (NPP) – 34,610 votes, and Awurabena Aubunn (NDC) – 34,199 votes,” she said.
“In view of the aforesaid, I am making a demand on your office to direct the returning officer for the Ablekuma North Constituency to collate and declare the Ablekuma North Constituency parliamentary election results within the provisions of the law,” she added.
Tema Central
Mr. Forson, his petition is demanding a recollation of the results, or what he described as “proper colation.”
According to him, the initial collation, which led to the declaration of the NDC candidate, Ebi Bright, as the winner, was done without the pink sheets from two polling stations.
“The votes from the two remaining polling stations, when added, will give me 18,870 votes as against the NDC’s 18,815 votes,” he said.
“In view of the aforesaid, I am officially demanding your good office to direct the returning officer for the Tema Central Constituency to properly collate and declare the Tema Central Constituency parliamentary election results in accordance with law,” he added.
Okaikwei Central
Mr. Boamah is also calling on the EC to recollate the results or conduct “proper collation” on the basis that the previous collation was done without the full complement of all the pink sheets from the polling stations.
According to him, the returning officer for the constituency, when declaring the results, excluded 31 polling stations.
“Based on the polling station results, pink sheets, and results as declared at the constituency collation centre, I am the projected winner of the parliamentary election. The unlawful exclusion of the 31 polling stations at the regional collation centre significantly impacted the outcome of the results,” he said in the petition.
Dome – Kwabenya
For Dome – Kwabenya, Mr. Oquaye Jnr. said the collation that led to the declaration of Elikplim Akurugu of the NDC as the winner was done in flagrant violation of the electoral laws of the country, as it was not done in the presence of him or his representatives.
Such an act, he insisted, was a breach of Regulations 43 (1) of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I 127).
He is therefore demanding that the EC conduct what he terms as a “proper collation” for the constituency.
Source: Graphic Online
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