Ewurabena Aubynn flips Ablekuma North for NDC after dramatic collation standoff

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn, has been declared the winner of the Ablekuma North seat.

The announcement was made by the Returning Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Collation Centre of the Electoral Commission on Tuesday evening.

This declaration follows days of dramatic standoffs during the collation process, with NDC supporters and security forces clashing outside the premises.

However, the outcome has been met with dissatisfaction from her opponents.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh alleged that the EC official was pressured by NDC supporters into making the declaration.

The NPP further claims that their own collation of results projects a victory for their candidate rather than Ewurabena Aubynn.

“We do not accept what was mentioned. The man was put under duress, threatened to be killed so he should just say something,” she told pressmen.

Drama at the EC office earlier

This evening, the EC directed the resumption of the collation process for the Ablekuma North results at the Greater Accra Regional Collation Centre.

This decision followed heightened tensions as National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters gathered outside the premises, alleging attempts to subvert the electoral process.

Inside the collation centre, a heated standoff ensued between candidates of the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with both sides accusing each other of undermining the will of the people.

Prior to that, the collation process was suspended for the second time, halting proceedings after results from 219 out of the 281 polling stations had been collated.

The initial suspension occurred on Monday during the midway point of the collation process.

Jean Mensa had suspended the help processes of nine unresolved parliamentary disputes across the country until further notice.

But speaking to JoyNews, NDC former Deputy General Secretary Peter Otokunor disclosed that the EC Chairperson had intervened, instructing officials to continue with the collation process.

On the back of that, the officials returned to the room to crunch the figures once again.

But the process did not immediately resume as confusion erupted among the party officials there as well. There were heated exchanges that left some louver blades shattered.

The Ablekuma North constituency Returning Officer and the NPP candidate are also yet to return following the earlier reversal directive.

Meanwhile, a large crowd of NDC supporters massed outside the collation centre, demanding the immediate announcement of the results.

To maintain order, military personnel have been deployed to reinforce the police presence and ensure calm within the area.

Source: Kenneth Awotwe Darko