EC should re-run the whole Ablekuma North, not just 19 polling stations — Rodaline Imoru Ayarna

Public Interest Advocate, Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has argued that the planned re-run of elections in 19 polling stations in the disputed Ablekuma North parliamentary contest will not resolve the lingering issues.

She has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to hold a fresh election across the entire constituency to prevent further challenges after the July 11 partial polls.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3’s New Day show on Thursday, July 3, Madam Imoru Ayarna claimed there are concerns that the selected polling stations are strongholds of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“I would have wished that the Electoral Commission had done a complete overhaul—not 19—but a re-run of the whole constituency because that would have settled issues,” she said.

She added, “If you say that is your stronghold and you are convinced that it is your candidate who won, let’s have a re-run of the whole constituency so that, at the end of the day, no one will come out and say somebody cheated.”

Madam Imoru Ayarna also warned that failure to resolve the dispute fairly could leave Ablekuma North without representation for four years, similar to the SALL situation.

“If we do not handle this issue well, we’re going to end up having another SALL on our hands with no representation for four years, and we can’t afford that because Ablekuma North happens to be within the center of the capital,” she stressed.