2024 Polls: Rashid Tanko blames EC for the chaos in Weija Gbawe

Deputy Commissioner and Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Rashid Tanko-Compter says the Electoral Commission (EC) is the cause of chaos in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency.

Supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Weija Gbawe constituency demand that their candidate for the constituency be declared winner of the 2024 parliamentary election.

In the just-ended election, the NPP’s parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Jerry Ahmed Shahid was declared the winner but the NDC members would have none of that.

In a tense standoff, the protested supporters threw stones at the EC’s building, vowing not to leave until their request was granted.

Speaking in an interview on Starr Today, Dr. Tanko noted that there was a significant irregularity in the election process in the Weija-Gbawe constituency.

“We have taken note of the unavailability of Form 1C, which was not filled, but then generated a Form 1D, which is a summary sheet, which was used to declare the results. So, there is a serious anomaly there,” he explained.

He further explained the procedural requirements for declaring results. Saying that, “In terms of declaration, it is specified under Regulation 43 of CIR 127, and the process of declaring the results is that when you assemble all the pink sheets from the various polling stations, you are first going to fill the Form 1C, which is the coalition form,” he detailed.

Dr. Tanko attributed the issues to the Electoral Commission’s failure to follow proper procedures and their lack of response to the NDC’s request for an emergency IPAC meeting.

“Well, the problem is caused by the Electoral Commission. I mean, if they follow the processes very well, all these needless issues that we have will not arise, because of their posture and their behaviour. Don’t forget our General Secretary has written to them, requesting that we have an emergency IPAC meeting.”

He therefore called for a collaborative approach to address the challenges and ensure a fair resolution.

“The major stakeholders in this business are NDC and NPP. Let’s sit together. Let us understand what we intend to do. What are the problems? What are your challenges?” he urged.