PNC in Sissala East wants recount of ballot papers

Tumu, Dec. 18, GNA - The Executive members of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) in the Sissala East Constituency is calling for a recount of the ballot papers of the Parliamentary election to ascertain the true results.

In a petition signed by the Constituency Chairman, Mr Abdulai Bayong Ayarna and addressed to the District Electoral Officer, the executives said there were several good reasons why a recount was necessary to make the result accurate and reliable. "For instance, total votes cast for the Presidential election was 18,537 while the total votes recorded in the Parliamentary election stood at 20,138", the petition read.

"This wide difference in figures between the Presidential and Parliamentary results create suspicion of an act of foul play", it noted.

The executives did not also understand why rejected ballot papers for Presidential and Parliamentary should have the same figure of 1,019,

"This is highly impossible and difficult to believe", the petitioners said, adding: "We are also shocked that the total number of rejected votes read out at the collation centre stood at 663". The total valid votes cast for the three Parliamentary Candidates were Mr Issah B. Ahmed (NPP) 5,226, Mr Moses Dani Baah (PNC) 6,843 and Alhassan D. Halutie (NDC) 7,050.

The petitioners said the total of these figures stood at 19,119 and did not understand how the Electoral Commission arrived at a figure of 19,042 announced at the collation centre.

The executives also said at Sakai Polling Station "B", the total number of eligible voters was 640 while the total number of votes in the ballot box read 970 and wanted to know how that happened. They questioned the Electoral Commission why the Nabugubelle ballot box was empty and the whereabouts of the 68th ballot box. The petitioners appealed to the Electoral Commission to withdraw the services of the District Electoral Officer and his team from conducting the run off in the constituency because of the mistrust the people have for them.

The executives called on supporters of the PNC to remain calm and help sustain the prevailing peace in the district for development. They however warned that they would not sit down unconcerned and allow an individual to plunge the people into confusion for selfish gains.

Earlier, supporters of the PNC in the constituency on Tuesday demonstrated to register their dissatisfaction against the results of the Parliamentary election.

They marched through the principal streets of Tumu amidst drumming, singing and dancing.

The demonstrators carried placards some of which read: "District Electoral Commission is a threat to democracy" and Electoral Commission, all we need is fairness".

They later converged at the District Offices of the EC where a copy of the petition was read and handed over to Mr Mohammed Lulua, Deputy Returning Officer.