Concerned NDC Members challenge lower Manya Krobo branch elections

The ongoing National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch executive elections in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency of the Eastern Region have been overshadowed by two separate petitions filed by aggrieved party members, who are alleging widespread electoral irregularities and calling for urgent intervention by the party's regional and national leadership.

The petitions, signed by Godwin Oblanda Totroku, Constituency Youth Organizer, alongside 19 others, including some Constituency and Branch Executives, and addressed to the Eastern Regional Secretariat through the Regional Elections Directorate, have accused the regional representative supervising the elections, Alhaji Sumaila Mahama, as well as the constituency's three-member Elections Committee, of violating the party's electoral guidelines and undermining the credibility of the exercise.

Addressing the press at Odumase Krobo on Friday, July 03, 2026, the aggrieved members demanded the immediate replacement of Alhaji Sumaila Mahama, a member of the NDC Eastern Regional Council of Elders, as the Regional Representative overseeing the branch elections in Lower Manya Krobo.

According to the petitioners, Alhaji Mahama allegedly condoned breaches of the party's election guidelines, intimidated members who raised concerns about the electoral process, demonstrated bias in the discharge of his duties, and failed to uphold the principles of transparency and fairness expected of an election supervisor.

They further alleged that his actions had eroded confidence in the electoral process and risked creating divisions within the constituency.

As an example, the petitioners cited the suspension of elections at the Lucky Day 1 and 2 branches on June 30, claiming that Alhaji Mahama allegedly refused to allow a contest for the Women's Organiser position and instead attempted to have one candidate endorsed unopposed.

The petitioners are therefore requesting that the party immediately replace him, suspend the ongoing branch elections pending a review of the alleged irregularities, institute an inquiry into his conduct, and guarantee members the freedom to raise grievances without intimidation.

In a separate petition, the concerned members also called for the dissolution or reconstitution of the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency's three-member Elections Committee, accusing it of widespread electoral malpractice and gross violations of party guidelines.

Among the allegations contained in the petition are claims that the committee lacks independence and is being influenced by outgoing constituency executives, that election schedules are being determined by an individual who is not a member of the committee, and that no official timetable has been published for the branch elections.

The petition also alleges that official declaration forms for unopposed candidates are being distributed by an unauthorised person, that the committee has refused to use the party's official elections dashboard, and that elections in at least 12 branches have been placed on hold without proper justification.

The petitioners further claimed that some committee members who had resigned due to their intention to contest constituency executive positions continue to influence the conduct of the elections despite stepping down.

They are consequently asking the party's National Executive Committee to dissolve the current Elections Committee, remove all unauthorised persons from the electoral process, review elections suspended in the affected branches, enforce the use of the party's official elections management system, and investigate all individuals accused of interfering in the electoral process.

Speaking to journalists, some of the aggrieved contestants appealed to the party leadership to intervene.

Angmor Gladys of the Lucky Day branch B alleged that although she submitted her nomination forms to contest the Women's Organiser position, she was later told to allow the incumbent to go through unopposed.

Elizabeth Narh Dede of the Nuaso Roman Chapel Branch One claimed she won the Women's Organiser election by 35 votes to nil, but was allegedly prevented from signing the official results sheet.

Kwao Felicia Mamle of the Odumase Laasi 1A branch also alleged that some constituency executives were attempting to manipulate the process and urged senior party officials to intervene before tensions escalated.

Alhaji Sumaila Mahama dismisses claims

However, Alhaji Sumaila Mahama rejected the allegations and maintained that the elections are being conducted strictly in accordance with the NDC's rules and regulations.

He explained that where petitions challenging the eligibility of contestants are received, election officials withhold only the affected position while proceeding with the remaining contests, pending a determination by the appropriate party authorities.

Responding specifically to allegations surrounding some of the suspended elections, he cited instances where petitions questioning the eligibility of contestants were filed before voting, insisting that the committee acted within the party's guidelines by suspending only the disputed positions.

He also denied allegations of misconduct and calls for his removal, stating that he had not violated any party rules and that the elections under his supervision had been conducted in a free, fair, and systematic manner.

"I have not violated anyone here. I do not see the reason why somebody, because of his own interest, would say that Alhaji Sumaila should be changed. Everything is going on systematically, free and fair elections," he said.

The Eastern Regional Secretariat and the National Elections Directorate are yet to publicly respond to the petitions.