Dr. Mu-Awiya Zakaria , a medical doctor and one of the aspirants who lost the National Democratic Congress(NDC) parliamentary primary at the Mion constituency has set a legal action at the Tamale High court to have the results of the constituency cancelled on grounds of electoral irregularities.
The writ filed in court by Dr. Zakaria against the Electoral Commission and Mohammed Abdul-Aziz the winner of the Mion parliamentary polls, is asking the court to set aside the results, alluding that there were “wanton violations” in the primary.
Per the results of the November 21 polls, Mohammed Abdul-Aziz having garnered 1,652 votes as against the 1,639 votes of his closest contender(the plaintiff) was declared by the EC as the winner.
But on claims of grave irregularities in some six electoral areas and polling stations in the constituency, Dr. Zakaria has challenged that the victory of Abdul-Aziz “is not genuine and does not represent the true will of the people”.
“Indeed the entire process has been defiled and the will of the people subverted. Transparency and fairness can only be restored to the process by an annulment of the results of the said polling stations as required, and a recount of the results of the other polling stations before the court as may be required and as the court may find,” his statement of claim states.
A statement filed by his counsel specifically mentioned Tuwua L/A Primary school polling station, Kulinkegu, Boyoyili and Gunsi Electoral areas, as well as the Dabogni polling station as the areas where the irregularities occurred.
He wondered why after a first collation of results, he emerged the winner with 1,731 votes while Abdul-Aziz had 1,576 votes but only for a second collation to be done that brought Abdul-Aziz in the lead with a vote difference of 13.
He claimed his agent at the Collation Centre requested for a recount of the ballot but this, he said was refused.
By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
