A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has dismissed claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that it is boycotting the upcoming parliamentary rerun at Ablekuma North.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Gbande accused the NPP of being dishonest, alleging that the party’s operatives are secretly campaigning in the constituency under the cover of the night despite publicly announcing a boycott.

“The NPP is part of the election but is lying to Ghanaians about boycotting. They are disingenuous and go to campaign at night,” he stated.

Gbande challenged the NPP to officially communicate any decision to withdraw from the contest to the Electoral Commission (EC), so the candidate’s name could be removed from the ballot.

“If they are serious, they should write to the EC and inform them officially that they are pulling out,” he said.

He also alleged that the boycott narrative stems from internal polling and party assessments that indicated the NPP’s candidate faces likely defeat in what was once considered a stronghold.

“After an assessment, they have realised their candidate will lose and wish to change her but can’t. They know she did nothing as an ambassador, and even as a former MP, she has no track record. That’s why she lost the primaries in 2020,” Gbande indicated.

Gbande further claimed that the NPP previously attempted to manipulate the electoral outcome in the constituency using intimidation tactics.

“Ablekuma North was one of the constituencies the NDC won, but the NPP wanted to use police intimidation to snatch it from us. That won’t work,” he stressed.

The Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun was ordered following disputes over results in the 2024 general elections, which led to the Electoral Commission scheduling a fresh poll in the area.

Barring any last-minute challenges, the election will come off on Friday, July 11, 2025, in the advertised 19 polling stations.

MRA/AE

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