The Electoral Commission has resumed the collation of parliamentary votes for Ablekuma North after a delay caused by disagreements over the results from 20 polling stations.
This development follows a Supreme Court ruling that annulled the re-collated results in several constituencies, including Ablekuma North, citing violations of the candidates’ right to a fair hearing.
The suspension, which took place on Sunday, January 5, allowed the Commission to verify 21 pink sheets from 62 outstanding polling station results before proceeding with a declaration.
The Electoral Commission noted that the process will continue within 24 hours after thoroughly reviewing the disputed pink sheets.
The High Court had instructed the Commission to complete the collation process for Ablekuma North and three other constituencies.
While the collation for three of the constituencies was completed and declared in favor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the process for Ablekuma North was halted due to disputes.
The delay arose from concerns raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding scanned copies of pink sheets submitted by the NPP. Dr. Rashid Tanko Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, directed party representatives to withdraw from the process, calling it illegitimate. In response, the Electoral Commission paused the collation to address these issues.
The Commission is now calling in the presiding officers from the contested polling stations to confirm whether the pink sheets submitted by the NPP on Monday are legitimate.
This action is part of their effort to resolve the dispute and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. By involving the officers who oversaw the voting at those stations, the Electoral Commission aims to clarify the situation and ensure that all results are accurate. This is a crucial step in maintaining transparency and trust in the system.
