Confusion over Cape Vars SRC elections

Nicholas Normeshie, one of the candidates who contested the University of Cape Coast Students Representative Council (SRC) elections conducted by the university authorities, has secured an injunction against the university from declaring the election results, due to alleged irregularities.

He has also filed a writ at a Cape Coast High Court seeking an order to declare the elections null and void while calling for a re-run.

The alleged irregularities, as outlined in the affidavit in support of his claim, include multiple voting, using ballot papers without serial numbers, recording over 100 per cent voter turnout at some polling stations, agent signing the declaration forms under duress, and using identification ink that could be cleaned.

The case is due for determination on May 4, two days after the institution has completed the academic year. The examinations start on April 28.

The action of Mr. Normeshie has received massive support from the majority of the students, who have vowed to resist with "our blood and certificates, any attempt by the authorities to succumb to pressure from the powers that be, to impose Mr. Khalid Malmud, who is believed to have won the elections, on them.

Khalid is the son of the Upper East Regional Minister, Malmud Khalid.

Mr. Atto Mills Cranes is counsel for plaintiff.

Sources close to him indicate that “there are overwhelming evidence to prove the case that the election was rigged n favour of Khalid.”

The disputed results put Khalid Mahmud ahead with 2,480 votes, with Normeshie securing 2,422 votes, while Addai Munumkum managed 761 votes, Emmanuel Gyedu, 501, and Lilly Appiah, 211.

In the affidavit in support of his claim, plaintiff accuses Dr. Mrs. Linda Ford and Dr. Howard, the University’s Elector-all Commissioner and Deputy respectively, of supervising an election chatacterised by massive irregularities and fraud.

According to him, votes recorded at six out of the polling stations exceeded the number of people in the voters' register.'' The stations were Adehye Hall, Valco Hall, where Khalid resides, Science One, Science Two and Science Three.

Even though these irregularities were brought to the notice of the electoral commissioner, she still went ahead to declare the results.”

Plaintiff further contends that "even before the start of the elections, my polling agents protested that the ballot papers were not serialised. That at about 3:00 p.m. some students, who had voted twice, were caught, and that during the trial all those names will be brought out.

"That the Electoral Commissioner instead of printing only students who were in one Hall's name in a particular register, printed all the names of all the students, hence facilitating multiple voting," the affidavit added.

Plaintiff further alleges that the indelible ink used could be rubbed off with parazone, thus making it possible for some voters to vote many times at different polling stations.