The Deputy Director of Elections for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Jibril, has strongly asserted that if one is seeking a group of organized political actors operating outside professional norms, they would find it within the membership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr. Jibril made these forceful remarks in response to the NPP’s reaction to a recent order by the Tamale High Court for a rerun of the parliamentary election in the Kpandai constituency.
He specifically criticized the Minority’s reaction to the ruling, stating that their attack on the presiding judge was unfortunate and an unwarranted assault on the judiciary.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he addressed the NPP’s protest:
”I heard the Minority lamenting over the order. [NPP Spokesperson] Afenyo-Markin should educate himself on how elections are organized in Ghana and cease misleading the public. They are making needless arguments that the votes in the 41 polling stations we raised concerned only 500 ballots. That is precisely why I have stated that if you are looking for organized criminals in our political space, then it is members of the NPP.”
When prompted by the host to withdraw the remark due to its strong nature, Mr. Jibril revised his description while maintaining the critical tone: “How do you want me to describe them? Very well, they are an organized misinformation group. They lack a foundational understanding of the electoral process and are, nonetheless, misleading Ghanaians over the Kpandai polls.”
He affirmed the court’s definitive ruling for a rerun.
While asserting the NDC’s position, he stated it was prudent that the NPP has filed an appeal to challenge the court’s outcome.
Mr. Jibril, however, raised concerns about the timing of the NPP’s action, questioning how the NPP filed its appeal so swiftly, wondering how they obtained official notification of the outcome before it was formally read.
He further projected confidence that the NDC will win the rerun and successfully “snatch” the seat from the NPP.
He also dismissed the NPP’s complaint that the judge exceeded the reliefs sought by the NDC.
He explained that while the NDC filed concerns regarding 41 polling stations, the NPP presented counterclaims in other stations, which ultimately prompted the lawyer for the NDC candidate to move the court to order a complete rerun.
Mahdi Jibril concluded on an optimistic note, expressing his belief that the outcome of the rerun elections would be peaceful.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
