Key Points
- NDC sues EC to halt re-collation of 2023 results.
- Five constituencies affected as NDC claims EC lacks authority.
- Trobu candidate seeks court order to nullify election results.
In order to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from recollecting and reannouncing the results of the parliamentary elections for the constituencies of Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Obuasi East, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched a lawsuit. The NDC contends that the EC lacks the legal power to change results that have already been announced.
NDC sues EC to stop re-collation of election results
The disagreement stems from the EC’s ruling that the results for Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central were invalid because of “procedural irregularities.” On December 13, Deputy EC Chair for Operations Samuel Tettey clarified that the invalidation was required due to noncompliance with CI 127’s rules.
He mentioned that the cops were there to make sure the recollection process went smoothly.
To prevent the EC from re-collating, recounting, or redeclaring results for the constituencies, the NDC and five parliamentary candidates—Faustina Elikplim Akurugu, Baba Sadiq, Ewurabena Aubynn, Ebi Bright, and Samuel Aboagye—have filed a motion for a court order. According to the party, the EC has “exhausted its mandate” and is no longer able to review results once they have been made public.
The case has spurred discussion about the EC’s authority and how it affects governance and electoral openness.
NDC parliamentary candidates push back against re-declaration plans
A connected issue is the filing of a separate Parliamentary Election Petition by Dr. John Kofi Halm, the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Trobu. He is challenging the legitimacy of the results of the December 7 parliamentary election in Trobu, where the EC proclaimed Gloria Owusu, the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the victor.
According to Dr. Halm, 288 voting places had 98 anomalies that tainted the election. According to him, the procedure went against both the guiding principles and Regulation 39 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2000 (C.I. 127).
Dr. Halm is requesting in his appeal that the court order a repeat in the 98 polling places where the results were deemed invalid. Additionally, he is attempting to stop the Clerk of Parliament from swearing in Gloria Owusu, a member of the NPP, as the Trobu MP.
According to Myjoyonline, the NDC’s legal efforts have raised questions about how the EC handled the election results and may have a significant impact on electoral accountability and transparency.
