EC Interdicts 5 Officers Complicit In Yendi NPP Primary Brouhaha

The Electoral Commission (EC) has reportedly interdicted five officers for their complicity in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) parliamentary primary in Yendi on January 27, 2024.

The interdicted officers excluding municipal officers were accused of their alleged involvement the tampering of ballot papers during the parliamentary elections in that constituency.

The parliamentary elections in the constituency was marred with controversy and chaos resulting in the beating up of some electoral officers who had to run for their lives abandoning the process. One electoral officer was accused of tampering with ballots of one of the candidates.

Report by Citinews said it has after it independent verification, confirms that the EC has interdicted the five officers for their involvement.

The background to these events is rooted in the violent disruptions that occurred during the counting of ballots on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

The poll was a contest between the incumbent Yendi MP, Farouk Aliu Mahama, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah.

Hajia Abibata Mahama has come forward with allegations that an official from the Electoral Commission attempted to pocket some of her ballots.

In her petition to the party’s leadership, she claims that some party officers conspired with the incumbent MP to rig the elections, resulting in his declaration as the winner of the primary by party officals instead of the EC offcials who presided over the process.

The EC’s decision to interdict the officers involved shows a commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process. It also demonstrates the seriousness with which they regard the allegations raised by Hajia Abibata Mahama and the need to thoroughly investigate the matter.

The NPP’s leadership will now be faced with the challenge of addressing these allegations and ensuring a fair and transparent process going forward.

The interdiction of the officers involved will likely be followed by a thorough investigation of the incident to determine the truth behind the allegations.

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