NPP challenges NDC parliamentary wins in key constituencies: alleges coercion of EC officials to declare questionable results 

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of employing violent tactics to manipulate election results, alleging that party supporters threatened electoral officials and disrupted the collation process in several constituencies across the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, December 16th 2024, Mr Peter Mac Manu, the chairman of the party alleged the NDC hoodlums engaged in vandalism and intimidation which made electoral officials declare questionable election results.

NPP officials recounted several incidents during the recent parliamentary elections, highlighting how NDC supporters stormed coalition centres, overpowering security forces and destroying vital electoral materials, including pink sheets which are crucial for verifying voting results.

According to the NPP, one of the most egregious incidents occurred on December 8, when NDC members allegedly attacked the coalition centre in the Ablekuma North constituency.

He explained that eyewitnesses reported that the attackers attempted to destroy all electoral materials on-site, forcing the Electoral Commission (EC) to suspend the collation process in the region.

The NPP stated that, following this disruption, the EC relocated the collation efforts to a regional centre where they managed to authenticate and verify results from 214 polling stations. However, during the subsequent session on December 10, NDC representatives claimed they could not locate their pink sheets and insisted that their candidate should be declared the winner, leading to a tense standoff.

NPP parliamentary candidate Vincent Tobin, who served as the returning officer, expressed fear for his safety, revealing that NDC representatives threatened him to declare their candidate as the winner without completing the necessary collations. "I pleaded with them to allow the process to continue, but they insisted on a declaration under duress," he said.

Similar incidents were reported in other constituencies, including Tema Central and Okaikwei Central, where the NPP claims that NDC thugs interrupted the electoral process, causing chaos and injuries among innocent bystanders. In one instance, he said NDC supporters allegedly brought in a staff member from another constituency to make a declaration without completing the official processes, further undermining the integrity of the election.

The NPP's concerns extend beyond immediate disruptions, as they call on the international community and civil society to pay close attention to these troubling events. "These actions threaten our democratic gains and undermine the credibility of our electoral processes," stated a party spokesperson.

As the situation unfolds, the NPP is demanding that the EC take swift action against any irregularities and restore order to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process moving forward. The party continues to gather evidence and testimonies to support their claims of electoral malpractice by the NDC.

The NDC has not yet responded to these allegations, but as tensions rise in the political landscape, the NPP’s accusations signal a growing divide and potential unrest surrounding the recent elections