Nii Lante Vanderpuye Slams NPP’s Petition to Police

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) former Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodio, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has strongly criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what he describes as a misplaced petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) regarding the ongoing controversy in the Ablekuma North constituency.

Speaking on the matter, Nii Lante Vanderpuye questioned the rationale behind the NPP’s decision to approach the police, rather than the Electoral Commission (EC), which he insists is the appropriate authority for resolving electoral disputes.

“The IGP doesn’t conduct elections, you understand? And they should know this. The IGP doesn’t conduct elections. It is the EC that conducts elections so why do you march to the police headquarters? To do what?”

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former MP for Odododiodio

According to the former MP, the NPP’s actions are indicative of a fundamental misunderstanding of Ghana’s electoral framework. He argued that law enforcement authorities play only a supporting role in the electoral process, and cannot influence the core decisions of the EC.

“It is the EC who would demand or request police protection in the exercise of its mandatory functions so you don’t go to the police. Did you go to the police to order the EC?”

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former MP for Odododiodio

The former Sports Minister took a sharp jab at what he implied was political posturing disguised as concern. He suggested that the NPP’s march to the police headquarters was more about theatrics than substance.

“The simple fact is that some of them have developed bellies, and they want to exercise in order to reduce the fat around their bellies. That’s what I can say because seriously speaking, I don’t think this is necessary”

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former MP for Odododiodio

For Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the more appropriate recourse lies either with the EC or the courts. He urged the NPP to follow constitutional channels if they believe the EC has failed in its responsibilities.

Legal and Electoral Options

In his view, the solution is clear: engage the EC directly or seek judicial intervention. He stated that Ghana’s democratic structures already provide adequate remedies for grievances relating to elections. “This is simple,” he added.

Drawing from his own experience, Nii Lante Vanderpuye noted that political parties are provided with their own pink sheets after every election and can use these documents to aid in collation and reconciliation when disputes arise.

“If the EC says it cannot find its own pink sheets, the parties have pink sheets,” he explained, recounting a similar incident in 2020 where pink sheets went missing at his constituency’s collation centre, but were recovered after a joint party effort.

He dismissed suggestions that scanned pink sheets or incomplete data should derail election outcomes, reiterating that the EC’s own regulations provide direction on how to proceed in such circumstances.

“This is not something that we should break heads about,” Nii Lante Vanderpuye said, urging calm from all parties, while asserting the NDC’s victory in the Ablekuma North constituency.

“According to the pink sheets we have and our coalition, we are confident we have won the seat,” he said and challenged the NPP to also bring forth their original pink sheets, if only they are confident they won the seat under contention.

He added that if the EC’s primary and party copies are all unavailable, a by-election would be the only fair resolution.

“If the EC takes the decision that tomorrow we want to have a by-election, the EC will call the police and provide petitions so that we have the election”

Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, former MP for Odododiodio

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