Fri, 11 Jul 2025 Elections

NDC gov’t didn’t force Ablekuma North into rerun; EC couldn’t authenticate results — Ebi Bright

By Isaac Donkor Distinguished

Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Ebi Bright

The Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Ebi Bright, has dismissed claims that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government forced the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a rerun in 19 polling stations in the disputed Ablekuma North parliamentary elections.

She explained that the exercise, scheduled for today, Friday, July 11, was necessary due to “illegality and stealing” that marred the collation process after the December 7, 2024, polls.

Speaking to journalists at a polling station in Ablekuma North, Ms Bright, who contested the 2024 Tema Central parliamentary seat on the NDC’s ticket, said the EC could not authenticate the results, leaving no option but a rerun.

“We tried to complete the collation process. But if completion means allowing illegalities and thievery to go on, no responsible government would sit back. The EC couldn’t continue because they couldn’t authenticate the results,” she said.

She added: “This is not an issue of incumbency forcing a rerun. It’s the fact that there was no other option. We knew already that we couldn’t allow these irregularities to stand.”

About 6,000 voters across 19 polling stations are expected to cast their ballots today to end the months-long impasse over the Ablekuma North parliamentary race.

Both candidates—Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ewurabena Obeng of the NDC—have expressed optimism about securing victory.

A recollation of results from unaffected polling stations on Thursday showed the NPP with 32,512 votes and the NDC with 32,464—a razor-thin margin of 48 votes.