'This EC is evil' – Nii Lante Vandepuye fumes over EC’s recollation of nine parliamentary seats

National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Odododiodio Constituency, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has described the current leadership of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) as embarking on an evil agenda.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One News, the NDC MP accused the current EC of not having Ghana’s interest at heart.

“I want viewers to forgive me; everybody forgive me; I am not going to be charitable at all. This EC is evil. I am sorry to say it. You see, they personify what the Bible says ‘the evil intentions of man are continual.’

“From day one, this EC has portrayed a particular intention, mood, and shown a particular attitude that tells me they don’t have this country at heart,” he said.

He accused the EC Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa, of losing public trust through her own actions compared to her predecessors.

“Did you ever see Afari Gyan walking around with soldiers?” he questioned.

“If the EC has been that trustworthy if the EC has exhibited characteristics of nationalism, patriotism, unbiasedness, faithfulness, and exuded confidence in the public, why would the EC fear?” he further asked.

His comment is in reaction to the declaration of seven disputed parliamentary seats for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) by the EC after a re-collation exercise.

Following a recent court ruling, the Electoral Commission resumed the collation of results for some nine disputed constituencies in the December 7 elections.

After the exercises on Saturday, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidates in seven respective constituencies were declared winners.

Four seats, which were initially declared for the NDC, namely Obuasi East, Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, and Techiman South, were re-declared in favour of the NPP.

The Obuasi East seat, which was initially declared for NDC’s Samuel Aboagye, was re-declared for NPP’s Patrick Boakye-Yiadom; the Tema Central seat, which was declared for NDC’s Ebi Bright, was re-declared for NPP’s Charles Forson.

Also, the Techiman South seat was re-declared for NPP’s Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah after it had been initially declared for Christopher Beyere Baasongti, and the Okaikwei Central seat was re-declared for NPP’s Dr. Patrick Boamah after it was initially declared for NDC’s Baba Sadiq.

The Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ahafo Ano South West, and Ahafo Ano North constituencies, which were initially incomplete, were also declared in favor of the NPP’s Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, and Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah, respectively.

Two constituencies - Ablekuma North and Dome Kwabenya - are, however, yet to be determined.

For the Ablekuma North Constituency, NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat without the results of 62 polling stations.

The NPP’s candidate for the constituency is Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, a former MP and the current Deputy Chief Executive of the Coastal Development Authority.

For Dome Kwabenya, NDC’s Elikplim Akurugu was declared the winner of the constituency’s seat, beating NPP’s Mike Oquaye Jnr.

With the declaration of seven out of the nine outstanding constituencies, the composition of the parliamentary results as declared by the Electoral Commission is as follows:

• NPP (New Patriotic Party): 89 seats

• NDC (National Democratic Congress): 181 seats

• Independents: 4 seats

This leaves two seats still pending from Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North, bringing the total number of seats declared to 274 out of 276 in the House.

GA

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