EC using ‘communist tactics’ to disqualify us - Parties

Some political parties that thronged the offices of the Electoral Commission to correct mistakes on their nomination forms on Monday, 7 November following a ruling by the Supreme Court to that effect, have accused the election management body of being bent on disqualifying them with delay tactics.

Representatives of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), People’s National Convention (PNC), All People’s Congress (APC) and the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) rushed to the head office of the EC to correct anomalies on the forms of their presidential nominees.

Also, the Independent People's Party (IPP), independent presidential aspirant Kwame Asiedu Walker and executives of other disqualified presidential aspirants were present at the office for the same purpose so as to beat the Tuesday, 8 November deadline.

This follows the ruling of a 7-member Supreme Court panel presided over by Justice Sophia Adinyira which upheld a High Court ruling ordering the EC to allow the PPP’s Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom to get back into the presidential race.

The apex court on Monday, 7 November also ordered the EC to extend the nomination period for flag bearers to Tuesday, 8 November.

Meanwhile, all other High Court cases in connection with the disqualification of the flag bearers have been suspended.

Officials of the EC got locked up in a meeting to study the judgement of the Supreme Court before proceeding with any other action.

Speaking to Paa Kwesi Parker-Wilson on Class91.3FM’s 505 news programme, the PPP’s Polciy Adivisor, Mr Kofi Asamoah-Siaw said the EC Chair wasted their time by not attending to them until they started rabble-rousing. “Let the [Supreme Court] order take immediate effect. … Nobody is talking to us. … What kind of country do you want to run? … The Supreme Court has spoken and they don’t want to obey. Which force is behind them? The only force that must be obeyed is the Supreme Court. … It’s complete disrespect for the Supreme Court …”

Also speaking with Parker-Wilson was the flag bearer of the Independent People’s Party (IPP), Mr Kofi Apaloo who accused the EC of using “communist tactics” to disqualify the affected partied. “You know they have made up their mind to disqualify some of us at all cost so right now they are playing deliberate delay tactics.”