The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared the results of the Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central constituencies in the recent parliamentary elections as illegal due to irregularities during the collation process.
The collation process in several constituencies, including Dome Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central, was marred by violence and unrest, leading to the relocation of collation activities to the Police Training School.
This move sparked disputes over the aggregation and delegation of results.
Speaking to Journalists on Thursday, December 19, EC Chair Jean Mensa explained that the declaration was illegal, asserting that the Commission’s decision was based on irregularities recorded during the collation and subsequent declaration.
According to her, despite police presence, the collation process was disrupted and taken over by political party leaders and supporters, resulting in declarations being made without due process.
The EC Chair cited specific examples, including Okaikwei Central, where the winner was declared without collating results from 31 polling stations, and Ablekuma North, where the winner was declared without collating results from 62 polling stations.
The EC considers these declarations illegal and will not uphold them.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has challenged the re-collation process, arguing that results declared at polling stations should stand as final.
“In spite of police presence at our regional offices, the collation process was once again disrupted and taken over by political party leaders and supporters and the results were declared for both constituencies without due process being followed.”
“In the case of Okaikwei Central, the winner was declared without collating results from 31 polling stations. In the case of the Ablekuma North, a winner was declared without collating results from 62 polling stations.
“This is unacceptable, the declarations were made under threats, and the Commission considers these as illegal. Those declarations similar in other constituencies will not be upheld.”
