Ayariga describes EC’s decision as ‘Joke of the Century’

Flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC) Dr Hassan Ayariga has questioned the seriousness of Ghana’s electoral management body (EMB), describing it as “confused”.

This followed an announcement by the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) that Dr Ayariga, together with 12 other presidential aspirants, is disqualified from contesting the December 7 elections.

Madam Charlotte Osei stated on Monday, October 10 that one of the subscribers of the presidential nomination forms of the APC founder had subscribed for the People’s National Convention (PNC) flagbearer too.

But Hassan Ayariga, who was the presidential candidate of the PNC in 2012, said the EC cannot prosecute such a decision since 431 others who subscribed to his forms were eligible. “I think the EC are a [body] that do not know what they are doing,” he said on Accra-based Joy FM on Monday.

“They are confused.” He expressed suspicion that the decision is a deliberate attempt to get him off the ballot paper. He said having contested the 2012 elections is even enough to get him through since it gives “enough of his identification”.

According to the APC founder, he used information on his voter ID card to fill the forms and so finds it difficult to accept the EC’s reasons. “Are we serious?” he asked.

“This is the joke of the century. Is it a deliberate attempt?” He said nothing will stop him from heading to court over this issue.