NPP, NDC trade accusations over Dome Kwabenya rerun decision
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have clashed over the Electoral Commission’s (EC) decision to rerun voting at a Dome Kwabenya polling station following irregularities in the parliamentary collation process.
The EC announced a rerun at the Abokobi Women’s Development Centre 2 polling station after discrepancies in the results were identified during collation. The rejected polling station, which has 669 registered voters, holds the potential to sway the election outcome, with the current margin between the leading candidates standing at 165 votes.
Mr Gary Nimako, the NPP’s legal representative, raised concerns over the EC’s handling of the collation process, particularly the delayed access to Form 1C, the collation sheet.
“We were not given Form 1C, but our colleagues were. Today, we finally received a copy, and we are reviewing the results polling station by polling station. There are 370 polling stations, and this will take time,” Nimako said on December 28, 2024, at the Dome Kwabenya collation centre.
Mr Nimako also criticised the lack of communication from the EC, saying, “The returning officer must explain why we were excluded at key stages of the process. The EC must ensure transparency and fairness.”
He assured supporters that the NPP would rally voters in preparation for the rerun to secure victory for their candidate, Michael Oquaye Junior.
However, Dr Rashid Tanko Computer, representing the NDC, dismissed the rerun as unnecessary and accused the EC of mishandling the collation process.
He argued that removing results from the disputed polling station would not change the NDC candidate, Faustina Akurugu’s, lead.
“When the EC declared Madam Akurugu the winner, she led by 1,154 votes. Removing 669 votes from one polling station still keeps her ahead. This is simple arithmetic, not complex mathematics,” Tanko said.
He criticised the EC’s reliance on electronic calculations, insisting that results should rely solely on pink sheets and collation forms.
The EC has stated that the rerun will take place before the inauguration of Parliament on January 7, 2025, to ensure a final resolution to the Dome Kwabenya parliamentary contest.