The People’s National Convention (PNC) is hoping to arrange a meeting with the Electoral Commission that could lead to the EC rescinding its decision and allow the party’s rejected presidential nominee Dr. Edward Mahama to contest the 2016 presidential election.
The Electoral Commission Monday announced that it is unable to accept his nomination to contest the 2016 presidential election together with some 11 other presidential hopefuls for some irregularities on their forms.
According to the EC chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, two subscribers for Dr. Edward Mahama had also endorsed another aspirant Hassan Ayariga. The commission also said many of his forms were not subscribed.
Former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan called the development “unfortunate”. He told Kwakye Afreh Nuamah on 3FM’s Midday News on Tuesday that it would be “very difficult” for the party to ascertain if a subscriber has endorsed another person.
The party’s constitutional and legal committee, he said, is expected to “quickly convene” and advise the party on the way forward. He is not ruling out the possibility of the party going to court for redress. This is the first time the party’s candidacy has been rejected under the Fourth Republic going into a major election –presidential.
Edward Mahama himself would be making his third attempt if his nomination had been successful. “As it is, I thought we need to sit with the electoral commissioner and try to express our grievances so that she can see reason with us. I know she wants to bare her teeth but let’s pray…,” he hoped.
Already, accusations are flying all over in the party, a worrying and disturbing factor to him in the party’s quest to form the next government. Director of Communications for the PNC, Emmanuel Wilson has blamed the party’s General Secretary and Chairman respectively for the disqualification of their flagbearer from the 2016 elections.
But it is Alhaji Ramadan’s prayer that cool heads would prevail because “accusing each other on air is not good for the party,” he pleaded.
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