channel247 online
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has been dragged to the High Court in Accra over its decision to rerun parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency.
The suit, filed by New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, seeks to quash the EC’s July 1 directive and prohibit the rerun scheduled for July 11, 2025.
Last week, Nana Akua Afriyie, rejected the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to rerun election. Speaking on Accra based Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former MP insisted that she won the 2024 parliamentary election “fair and square,” citing results from all pink sheets in her possession. According to her, the collation process was nearly complete before the EC abruptly announced the rerun, a move she described as being in “bad faith.” She has backed her comments with the legal move.
In an application for judicial review, Madam Afriyie argues that the EC’s rerun decision violates a January 4, 2025, High Court order mandating the commission to collate and declare results from all 281 polling stations in the constituency—not conduct fresh elections.
The suit, supported by a 29-paragraph affidavit, alleges the EC acted “arbitrarily, capriciously, and in excess of its jurisdiction.”
The applicant highlights three key grievances. First, the EC’s rerun plan contradicts Justice Forson Agyapong Baah’s ruling, which required collation of outstanding results, not a partial rerun.
The Second, the suit asserts that Regulation 42 of C.I.127 permits reruns only in cases of tied votes, which the EC has not declared. Third, the EC’s reliance on unverified scanned pink sheets for its decision is deemed unreasonable.
The dispute stems from the December 7, 2024, parliamentary election, which was marred by violence at collation centers.
NANA AKUA(1)(Find attached the suit)
NDC supporters allegedly disrupted proceedings, destroyed ballots, and pressured officials to declare results prematurely.
Despite a January 2025 court order to complete collation, the EC cited security concerns and unresolved disputes over 37 polling stations, later narrowed to 19 for the proposed rerun.
In its July 1 letter and a follow-up press release, the EC defended the rerun, stating that 19 polling station results lacked verification by presiding officers.
It maintained the move was necessary to ensure credibility, though critics accuse the commission of bowing to political pressure.
The NPP has framed the lawsuit as a fight for electoral integrity, while the NDC insists a rerun is the only path to a fair outcome. The case has reignited tensions over the EC’s independence, with legal analysts warning of a constitutional crisis if the court rules against the commission.
Source:myjoyonline.com
Rafiq Adam
Emmanuel Mensah
