The opposition NDC is demanding the immediate refund of the filing fees paid by its 2020 presidential candidate, John Mahama, and some parliamentary candidates ahead of the December 7, polls.
In addition to the refund for the party’s presidential candidate, the filing fees of 269 parliamentary candidates are also being demanded by the NDC.
Citing regulations 46 (1) and 46 (3) of C.I. 127, the party said the money is to be deposited into the NDC’s account with GCB Bank.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, the party indicated that the decision was taken by the Functional Executive Committee (FEC). “Regulation 46 (1) and 46 (3) of C.I. 127 spells out the conditions for a refund or forfeiture of deposits made by presidential or parliamentary candidates. A presidential or parliamentary candidate must obtain a minimum of 25% and 12.5% respectively in a general election to qualify for a refund,” the statement signed by General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said. Meanwhile, the 2020 flagbearer of the NDC is at the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the 2020 election polls.
John Mahama is urging the apex court to order a second round of the presidential elections between himself and the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo.
According to the former President, the votes obtained by President Nana Akufo-Addo and himself in the December 7, election as declared by the EC Chair were not enough for a candidate to be declared the winner.
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Mr. Mahama said, “The claim that percentage of votes obtained by the 2nd Respondent [Nana Akufo-Addo] was 51.595% [6,730,413] of the total valid votes that she distinctly stated to have been 13,434,574 was a manifest error, as votes cast for 2nd Respondent would amount to 50.098% and not the 51.595% erroneously declared.”
He said the 1st Respondent in her December 9 declaration said the NDC candidate obtained 6,214,889 being 47.366% of the valid votes.
“From the total votes cast of 13,434,574, petitioner’s percentages would reduce to 46.260% and not the 47.366% erroneously declared.
“The percentage attribute to all but one of the other candidates by Mrs Mensa were all incorrect,” he said.
The former President argued that if all the valid votes for all the candidates who contested the election are put together, it would total “13,121,111, a figure that is completely missing from the purported declaration by Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa on December 9, and the purported rectification on December 10.”
Mr. Mahama said the percentage of all the valid votes for the 12 contesting candidates “would yield a total of 100.03%.”
This he said is a “mathematical and statistical impossibility, a further proof of the wrongfulness and unconstitutionality of the purported declaration.”
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Credit: Myjoyonline.com
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