Collate and declare Ablekuma North Constituency parliamentary results – Court to EC

The High Court has ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to collate and declare the parliamentary results for the Ablekuma North Constituency, dismissing objections by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which claimed the results had already been announced.

The court’s directive comes after weeks of electoral tensions and allegations of procedural irregularities.

The chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, held a press conference on Thursday, December 19, 2024, to address the disruptions that plagued the collation process.

According to Mensa, the collation of results in some constituencies, including Ablekuma North, was interrupted by directives from political party leaders urging supporters to besiege EC centers.

She described the actions as deliberate attempts to disrupt the process and destroy key electoral documents.

Collation Disruptions and Security Challenges

The EC revealed that violence and vandalism at collation centers halted proceedings. Supporters destroyed critical materials, including pink sheets and collation forms, and damaged electronic equipment.

Staff were assaulted and threatened, forcing the EC to relocate the collation centers for Ablekuma North and Okaikwei Central to the Greater Accra Regional Office under police protection.

Despite the relocation, the EC reported continued interference, with political party supporters gaining unauthorized access to collation centers. Images of staff being coerced to declare incomplete results circulated widely, further undermining public confidence.

Despite the NDC’s objections, the court emphasized the need for finality in the parliamentary results for Ablekuma North. It instructed the EC to proceed with the collation and declaration of results, ensuring adherence to the legal framework under Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 127.

Source: myrepubliconline.com