APC is the only qualified party to contest the elections - Ayariga

Presidential candidate of All People's Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for its decision to revoke the certificates of 'dead' political parties who do not meet the requirements of the political parties law.

The EC has served notice to all political parties that it will by the end of this month, [May] revoke the license of all the political parities who do not have two-thirds of district offices nationwide.

Some smaller political parties including the National Democratic Party (NDP), Great Consolidate Popularly Party (GCPP), and the Independent People's Party (IPP) have threatened to sue the EC for the directive.

The EC says it will ban any political party (26) that fails to present to the Commission details of their district offices to it by May 31, 2016.

But according to them (smaller parties), the EC is misinterpreting the law and should the EC go ahead with their decision, they will sue it.

But speaking in an interview with Kwame Tutu on the morning show, on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the presidential hopeful described the directive as lawful and urged them not to relent on their directive.

He said, "that is the directive of the EC and i think is right because we have a Political Parties Law 2000 Act 574 that requires all political parties; not smaller parties to have at least two-thirds of district offices in the country. So if you are a party and you do not have offices in your districts, how do you intend to run a campaign?" he quizzed.

Mr. Ayariga said the EC should sanction any political party including the so-called major ones who do not meet the requirements. He reiterated that, he will sue the EC if it fails to sanction them since his party, went through the processes and got its final certificate after meeting all the requirements.

"The law must be applied fairly and equally to everybody irrespective of your political standing...They should be serious; all the other political parties including the NDC and NPP should be serious."

Hassan Ayariga posited that, he does not see the other smaller political parties qualifying to contest in the general elections because they cannot meet the requirements of having two-thirds of district offices across the country.

According to him, establishing about 144 district offices in the various districts cannot be likened to buying shoes on the market. The EC he maintained, is on course and should be allowed to exercise its mandate.

"I think the EC is on course and they should be allowed to exercise its mandate because if you want to be the President of Ghana, you must first abide by the constitution of the EC, your party, including that of Ghana."

He quizzed further, "If you cannot fulfill the requirements by these institutions, how then do you become the President of our land and how will you be able to satisfy the constitution of Ghana?

Mr. Ayariga noted in party politics, every party should have offices in various districts to make it easier for it stakeholders to engage with them.

He described the argument by the NDP, GCPP, IPP and CPP as laughable since the law is the law hence they should go look for the offices required by the political parties law.

In his view, these parties are not serious parties since his party which was formed only two months ago has met all the requirements making it the only political party qualified to contest in the 2016 general elections.

"The only political party qualified to contest in 2016 elections is the All People's Congress (APC) founded by Dr. Hassan Ayariga...The rest of the political parties are just making noise. We want serious political parties to exist."