The decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana to rerun parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency has sparked a wave of outrage from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Some senior party figures, in a strong criticism, have accused the Commission of succumbing to pressure from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling government.
Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP’s Director of Communications, lashed out at the Electoral Commission’s decision, suggesting it reflects inconsistency and political bias.
According to him, the EC’s actions in Ablekuma North contrast sharply with how it managed a similar electoral dispute in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency.
“The EC has capitulated under the backbreaking pressure of the NDC and government to re-run the Ablekuma North parliamentary election in 19 stations. This differs from how they resolved Dome Kwabenya. Why didn’t the EC do a rerun in Dome Kwabenya?”
Richard Ahiagbah, the NPP’s Director of Communications
Mr. Ahiagbah argued that despite the Electoral Commission’s decision, the NPP remains confident that the electorate’s will shall prevail. “The will of the good people of Ablekuma North will stand. Victory no matter what,” he declared defiantly.
Echoing these sentiments, Salam Mustapha, the NPP’s National Youth Organiser, described the Commission’s move as disgraceful and indicative of either partisan bias or institutional intimidation.
EC’s Credibility Questioned
In a statement that pulled no punches, Salam Mustapha questioned the Commission’s credibility and demanded transparency on how the final decision to rerun the election in 19 polling stations was made.
“Shameful! Disgusting! EC—you have been very vocal in your communication that 3 polling stations are outstanding to complete collation. How, when and why did you arrive at a rerun of not just the three but 19 polling stations?”
Salam Mustapha, the NPP’s National Youth Organiser
He further asked whether the Electoral Commission was being manipulated or coerced. “You’re being biased or you have been intimidated by the NDC government? If it’s the latter, then say so boldly and let the records capture the same.”
The backlash from the NPP stems from an official statement issued by the Electoral Commission on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, announcing the rerun.
According to the Commission, the decision was necessitated by irregularities concerning the verification and authentication of election results from 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
The Commission stated that although scanned pink sheets from 37 polling stations were initially used in the collation process—reportedly with the approval of both NPP and NDC agents—it later emerged that 19 of those sheets had not been duly verified by the respective Presiding Officers.
This revelation undermined the legal and procedural integrity of the collation process, prompting the EC to opt for a rerun in the affected polling stations to uphold electoral transparency and public confidence in the results.
Contentious Seat
The Ablekuma North parliamentary contest has been one of the most contentious seats in the Greater Accra Region, aftermath of the December 7 2024 general elections, with both major political parties staking significant political capital in the outcome.
The seat, traditionally seen as a stronghold for the NPP, became the centre of controversy following disputes over the collation process and allegations of irregularities by the NDC.
The NDC had consistently raised concerns about the inclusion of pink sheets that were either unsigned or scanned without physical verification. These concerns culminated in calls for a complete nullification or rerun in areas where procedural lapses were observed.
However, the NPP maintained that these concerns were neither widespread nor significant enough to warrant a rerun and argued that the Commission’s earlier acknowledgement of three outstanding polling stations should have limited any further action.
While some see the EC’s decision as an effort to restore confidence in its processes, others worry it could embolden political parties to contest results on “flimsy or opportunistic grounds”.
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