The Electoral Commission (EC) has issued a statement disassociating itself from the parliamentary election results declared by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Yendi constituency.
The announcement comes in the aftermath of violence that erupted at the voting centre, disrupting the counting process.
The parliamentary election in Yendi featured a contest between the incumbent Member of Parliament, Farouk Aliu Mahama and the Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah.
According to reports, violence broke out at the voting centre, specifically during the counting process. Allegations emerged that one of the EC officials supervising the poll was involved in the destruction of ballots intended for Hajia Abibata, leading to the disruption of the counting process.
In response to the unfolding events, the Electoral Commission released a statement clarifying its stance on the situation. The statement, signed by the EC, expressed the Commission’s disapproval of the supposed results declared by an individual in a circulating video on social media.
The EC emphasized that it had not declared any results for the Yendi constituency in the recently concluded NPP parliamentary primaries. It provided details on the voter turnout, stating that 785 out of 794 registered voters participated in the election.
The counting of ballots for the incumbent, Hon. Farouk Aliu Mahama, was reportedly disrupted when the Presiding Officer counted 296 votes in his favour.
However, the destruction of 489 remaining ballots prevented the completion of the collation process and the declaration of results.