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A group of concerned delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ketu North Constituency have expressed their dissatisfaction with the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) declaration of a parliamentary candidate without conducting a re-run of what they say is a tied vote in the recent party primaries.
The NDC primaries, held on May 13, 2023, resulted in a tie of votes between candidates John Adanu Zewu and Edem Agbana, with both candidates receiving 358 votes after two recounts and a discovery of some unstamped ballots.
Two of the unstamped ballots were cast in favour of Edem Agbana, who initially secured 360 votes including the unstamped ballots, while one of the unstamped ballots was cast for John Adanu Zewu, who also initially secured 359 votes.
The removal of the unstamped ballots from the votes of the two leading candidates left the two with 358 valid votes each.
However, the NEC of the NDC made a declaration on May 16, 2023, announcing Edem Agbana as the duly elected NDC parliamentary candidate for Ketu North.
The concerned delegates, in their protest, expressed their concerns about the “lack of unity” within the party and urged the party’s constituency and regional executives to “address the issue promptly.”
They questioned the “silence of the local party leadership,” emphasizing the need for them to uphold party rules, regulations, and guidelines, as well as the country’s electoral laws.
No fresh election
But the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that the party will not hold a re-run of the parliamentary primaries in the Ketu North constituency.
This comes after a group of concerned delegates in the constituency expressed dissatisfaction with the declaration of a parliamentary candidate by the National Executive Committee (NEC) without a re-run of the tied vote in the recent party primaries.
The NDC primaries, held on May 13, 2023, resulted in a tie of votes between candidates John Adanu Zewu and Edem Agbana, with both candidates receiving 358 votes after two recounts and the discovery of some unstamped ballots.
In a Citi News interview the National Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande, said the party will treat the demands of the dissatisfied members as a request for reconciliation and cannot afford to organize fresh elections in the constituency.
“The National Chairman of the party was present, and the parties involved in the disputed primary were there with their lawyers. We then delivered a conclusive ruling on the matter, and Edem Agbana was declared the legitimately elected parliamentary candidate for Ketu North. As a result, any other issue will be considered a reconciliation effort because we are not even aware of any petition of this nature, and no such matter has been brought to our office. The party has moved on, and we are now preparing the elected candidate to win the seat.”
Mr. Mustapha Gbande also stressed that the NDC will not accept any attempt by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to engage in vote buying before or during the upcoming Assin North by-election.
SOURCE: citinewsroom.com
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