The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has won the Ablekuma North parliamentary election, with Ewurabena Aubynn defeating the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, by 209 votes in a tense re-run election of 19 polling stations held last Friday.
This victory marks the first time the NDC has secured the seat since the beginning of Ghana’s Fourth Republic in 1992. The standoff began after the December 7 general elections when the results from 62 polling stations became the subject of fierce contention between the NPP and the NDC, with both parties disputing the authenticity of pink sheets and the legitimacy of the collation process.
This contention mandated the Electoral Commission (EC) to announce a re-run in 19 polling stations, which had a total of 6,839 eligible voters; however, at the end of the exercise, Mrs Ewurabena Aubynn received 34,090 votes, whilst Nana Akua Afriyie garnered 33,881, as announced by the Commission.
Subsequently the NPP at a press conference announced their decision to boycott the election on grounds that its candidate emerged victorious in the December polls, but its candidate and party faithful rescind the decision to partake in the elections as key personality, including their 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former flagbearer aspirant, Mr Kennedy Agyapong; and, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi and a flagbearer hopeful, Dr Bryan Acheampong all campaigned in the constituency to rally support for Nana Akua Owusu-Afriyie.
The election saw a heavy security presence, including the Ghana Police Service, the Immigration Service, and the Prisons Service. However, incidents of electoral violence occurred, including an attack on former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, who was attacked by some unknown thugs who forcefully invaded the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station during voting.
A brutal assault on the Deputy National Organiser of the NPP, Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, was also witnessed at the St. Peter’s Polling Station in Odorkor during the elections.
Additional disturbances were reported at the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor Polling Station 2, where a police officer was interdicted for slapping Mr Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with GHOne TV. Despite these challenges, the election proceeded, resulting in the NDC winning the seat.
The Member of Parliament-elect, Ewurabena Aubynn, told journalists in a short interview that she expected the win because the party worked hard to secure the victory.
She thanked the constituents for believing in her and promised to address their challenges, giving the NDC the mandate to secure the seat after many attempts.
The NDC’s win in the Ablekuma North Constituency now increases the party’s representation in Parliament to 184 seats, empowering them with a commanding two-thirds majority in the House, leaving the NPP with 88 seats.
Already the four independent candidates, including Kwame Asare Obeng (A Plus), the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa Central, Mr Worlasi Kpeli, MP for Afram Plains North, Mr Ohene Kwame Frimpong, MP for Asante Akim North and Nandaya Yaw Stanley, MP for Wulensi have declared their support for the NDC, to further bolster their numbers.
This development strengthens the NDC’s parliamentary majority, potentially enhancing their ability to pass legislation and implement their agenda.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
The post Aubynn secures historic victory for NDC in Ablekuma North appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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