Some members and branch executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency have petitioned the party’s Eastern Regional Secretariat and Elections Directorate to replace the official supervising the ongoing branch elections.
The petitioners alleged procedural breaches, including irregularities in the electoral process and perceived bias in supervision, which they said could undermine confidence in the elections and deepen tensions within the constituency.
At a press briefing in Agomanya, Mr Torkonoo Edem Luke, a member of the constituency communications team, presented the petition on behalf of the group and called for urgent intervention to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the party’s internal electoral process.
The group is demanding the immediate replacement of Alhaji Sumaila Mahama, the official deployed by the Eastern Regional Secretariat to supervise the branch elections.
The group alleged that he had failed to strictly enforce party election guidelines, resulting in procedural irregularities during the exercise.
According to the petitioners, the alleged breaches included the improper composition of election committees, participation of ineligible aspirants and unauthorised alterations to branch voter registers.
They further claimed that some members who raised concerns about the process had been subjected to intimidation and threats, describing such conduct as inconsistent with the democratic principles underpinning the party’s internal elections.
The group also alleged that the supervisor’s actions had created perceptions of bias among some aspirants and contributed to growing tensions in a number of branches, thereby eroding confidence in the electoral process and threatening party unity in the constituency.
Citing an incident at the Lacky Day One and Lacky Day Two branches on June 30, 2026, the petitioners said disagreements over the eligibility of a Women’s Organiser aspirant disrupted the elections. They contended that the supervisor’s insistence that the position should proceed unopposed heightened tensions and fuelled disagreements among members.
They consequently called for the suspension of the ongoing branch elections, a formal investigation into the allegations and the appointment of a neutral supervisor to restore confidence in the process. The group also urged party leadership to assure members that grievances could be reported without fear of intimidation or victimisation.
Responding to the allegations, Alhaji Mahama rejected the claims and maintained that all actions taken during the elections were consistent with NDC rules and established procedures.
He explained that at the Odumase Presbyterian election centre concerns were raised regarding the eligibility of an aspirant, prompting the supervisory team to request the relevant register and supporting documents for verification.
He said the complainant was unable to provide the requested records at the time.
Alhaji Mahama said the matter was subsequently discussed with constituency, regional and national election committee representatives to ensure compliance with party procedures.
He added that the complainant later left the venue before the issue could be fully resolved.
Touching on the Ato-Tsunya branch elections, he said a Women’s Organiser aspirant petitioned against her opponent and copied the petition to constituency, regional and national executives.
According to him, because the matter was already before higher party authorities, the supervisory team withheld only the contested position while allowing elections for the remaining positions to proceed with the consent of the committees present.
Alhaji Mahama further alleged that during a swearing-in ceremony, some persons who were not members of the branch attempted to disrupt proceedings by demanding the inclusion of the withheld position despite the pending petition.
He described the incident as interference in the electoral process.
He maintained that all duly elected officers remained validly elected and insisted that the elections had been conducted freely, fairly and in accordance with party regulations.
He dismissed calls for his removal as unfounded and motivated by personal interests and urged members to use the party’s established dispute-resolution mechanisms.
The Eastern Regional Secretariat had not officially responded to the petition and the counterclaims at the time of filing this report, as disagreements over the conduct of the branch elections continued in the constituency.
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