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Ebi Bright, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Tema Central, has filed a petition at the High Court contesting the election of Charles Forson as Member of Parliament (MP).
She alleges that the declared results do not accurately reflect the polls and are tainted with irregularities.
Ebi Bright’s petition highlights issues at three polling stations, where she claims the following irregularities occurred:
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- Mismatch in Pink Sheets: The original pink sheets in the custody of the Electoral Commission (EC) bore the names and signatures of presiding officers, but the duplicates given to the NDC did not.
- Discrepancy in Votes: The total votes recorded for candidates on the original pink sheets did not match the total valid votes or overall votes cast.
Reliefs Sought
Based on these concerns, Ebi Bright is requesting the court to:
- Invalidate Results: Annul the results from the three disputed polling stations and overturn the declaration of Charles Forson as MP.
- Revert to Earlier Results: Reinstate earlier results that excluded the three disputed polling stations, where she was initially declared the winner.
- Order a Rerun: Alternatively, direct the EC to conduct a fresh election in the three polling stations.
On January 4, 2025, an Accra High Court directed the Electoral Commission to complete the collation of results from two polling stations in Tema Central, following a mandamus application filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Justice Forson Agyapong presided over the case, citing the EC’s statutory obligation to fulfil its duties impartially.
The subsequent collation at the EC’s Accra Regional Office confirmed Charles Forson of the NPP as the winner, securing 18,870 votes. Ebi Bright of the NDC followed closely with 18,815 votes, while an independent candidate, Frederick Aniagyei, obtained 209 votes.
The total valid votes cast stood at 37,894, with 144 rejected ballots, bringing the overall total to 38,038 votes.
Ebi Bright’s petition centres on claims of procedural lapses and electoral irregularities. She argues that the discrepancies undermine the credibility of the declared results. The outcome of this case could have significant implications, potentially leading to a rerun in the disputed polling stations or a reversal of the election outcome.
Charles Forson and the Electoral Commission are expected to respond to the petition in court as the legal battle unfolds.
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