The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a press statement expressing its concerns over an alleged plot by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in collaboration with the Electoral Commission, to insert the name of an unqualified NPP candidate into the Voters Register of the Assin North constituency. The objective of this illegal move is to enable the candidate, Charles Opoku, to participate in the NPP Parliamentary primaries for the upcoming Assin North by-election.
According to reliable sources cited by the NDC, Charles Opoku does not meet the clear requirement on the nomination form for the Assin North by-election, which stipulates that a candidate must be a registered voter in the Assin North constituency. It is important to note that Regulation 22 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020 (C.I 127) specifies that voter transfers can only be carried out for ordinary citizens not less than 42 days prior to a public election. Additionally, transfer applications can only be made to the Returning Officer of a public election. Given that the by-election in Assin North is less than 42 days away and a Returning Officer has not yet been appointed, any voter transfers to the constituency would be unlawful and vehemently opposed by the NDC.
The NDC asserts that it is closely monitoring the situation and will take all necessary and lawful steps to ensure that this alleged illegal plot is not carried out by the Electoral Commission and its collaborators in the NPP.
Signed by Sammy Gyamfi, National Communication Officer of the NDC, the press statement highlights the party's commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring fairness and transparency in the by-election.
The NDC's concerns reflect the importance of adhering to electoral regulations and maintaining the credibility of the electoral system. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Electoral Commission and the NPP will respond to these allegations raised by the NDC.