The National Democratic Congress says the Electoral Commission’s response to their statement on an alleged illegal plot to smuggle the name of an NPP parliamentary aspirant into the Assin North voters’ register is defective in logic and betray the Commission’s appreciation of their own criteria and elementary English language.
According to the NDC, the EC’s defence of the eligibility of one Charles Opoku to contest in the upcoming Assin North by-election reeks of bias and has clouded their judgement and interpretation of CI 127 as contained in the EC’s document.
CI 127, which contains the EC’s nomination form states that: “We the undersigned registered voters in ………………… Constituency do hereby nominate…………. ‘of the same Constituency’ to stand for election as a Member of Parliament, and we hereby certify that to the best of our knowledge he/she is qualified to be elected as such.”
The EC argues that the provision above “only requires those nominating a candidate for a parliamentary election in a Constituency to be registered voters in the same Constituency, and not the candidate who is being nominated to contest. The candidate is only required to hail from or reside in the Constituency to qualify to contest in that Constituency.”
However, the NDC is convinced this is a deliberate misinterpretation of the document.
“It should be obvious to any educated mind, that the phrase “of the same Constituency” contained at Part 1 of the EC’s own nomination form for the Assin North by-election, refers to the Candidate who is being nominated (proposed, seconded and endorsed) and not the nominees,” they argue.
“It is pathetic that the Jean Mensah-led Electoral Commission has allowed their palpable bias to cloud their judgement and interpretation of this simple provision contained in their own document. Anyone who has a basic understanding of English language must appreciate the fact that, the phrase: “of the same constituency”, refers to the Candidate being nominated. Simply put, the provision requires persons nominating a Parliamentary Candidate to be “of the same constituency” as the Candidate,” the NDC emphasized.
The EC in their response to the NDC had also revealed that the NDC’s Kwesi Amankwaa was not a registered voter in the Kumawu constituency where he had been fielded by the NDC to contest the Kumawu parliamentary seat in the just ended by-election.
However, responding to the claim, the NDC said the Commission’s attempts to equalize and rationalize their illegal conduct by citing similar instances in previous elections is hogwash to say the least.
“It is trite that estoppel cannot negate illegality. A multitude of illegalities cannot constitute legality. The fact that the EC failed and/or neglected to do the right thing in times past does not mean they should be allowed to perpetuate such wrongs.”
The NDC says it will continue to resist “any attempt by the EC to smuggle the name of the NPP’s parliamentary aspirant, Charles Opoku into the Assin North by-election. The good people of Assin North deserve to know that the said aspirant is not a voter in the Assin North Constituency.”
Latest Stories
-
Kwesimintsim NDC PC Fiifi Buckman holds massive health walk, constituents predict his victory
13 mins -
WHO allays fears of Ghana being at high risk of Mpox virus
19 mins -
Statue of the late Aliu Mahama to be mounted in Yendi to honour him
38 mins -
24 out of 1m Ghanaians suffer from end-stage kidney disease – NHIA CEO
45 mins -
Opinion: The Supreme Court goofed
1 hour -
Alcaraz shrugs off illness to beat Rublev in Turin
2 hours -
Omane Boamah criticises Bawumia for poor economic management
2 hours -
2024 Election: GJA president urges journalists to prioritise fact
2 hours -
We need to support Otto Addo despite AFCON disappointment – Frimpong Manso
2 hours -
Speaker should recall Parliament and maintain status quo – Prof Adei
2 hours -
George Afriyie pleads not guilty to GFA misconduct charges
2 hours -
Dr Ashigbey calls for urgent action and accountability from government in the fight against galamsey
3 hours -
Moroccan intelligence aids Canary Islands in seizing over 4.7 tons of hashish
3 hours -
Bawumia assures protection against farmland destruction
3 hours -
Essential Cosmetics champions breast cancer awareness with fundraiser, partners with Sonotech Medical Center
3 hours