Two-time disqualified presidential nominee of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has accused the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Madam Charlotte Osei of deliberately disqualifying him.
The Electoral Commission on Wednesday disqualified Ayariga alongside the presidential aspirants of the United Freedom Party(UFP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), the United Development System Party (UDSP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and the Independent People’s Party for the second time.
Speaking to Citi Breakfast Show Host, Bernard Avle, the APC Flagbearer described his second disqualification as a personal knockout.
“The first thing I will say is that this was personal rather than professional work. The APC certified all the constitutional requirements… Clearly everyone knows that this is a personal thing. This is a personal knock out that the EC demonstrated to Ghanaians. It is a sign that the rule of law is not working.”
“You all know that the Supreme Court ordered the EC to do the balloting today[Thursday] but the EC Chairperson who thinks that the Supreme Court cannot give the Commission orders to follow, did the balloting yesterday [Wednesday] and disqualified the political parties that were given the opportunity to make amends within the time frame. Even if there were mistakes we were still within the time frame to do the correction but she disqualified before 5 oclock, made her announcement before 5 oclock and balloted around 4. 30. All the rush to do things was not because she was going to do the right thing but because she wanted to do the wrong thing…She went to London to make comments that Ayariga was going to lose the election.”
He believes his disqualification was a deliberate move to exclude him from the presidential race.
“I believe in the rule of law. Looking at the number of days left, what she is doing is a deliberate attempt to exclude the APC.”
Recounting factors that led to his second disqualification, Mr. Ayariga alleged that the EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei drove the APC’s General Secretary out of the conference room where the Commission was accepting the nomination forms of the various disqualified candidates for the second time because she was angry.
“The second time we gave her the letter, she drove the General Secretary out of the room and asked them to go away and that they will hear from her later.”
Mr. Ayariga said though his lawyers have advised him to sue the EC for the second time over his disqualification, he might not take such a move since the EC chair is a “woman who does not believe in the rule of law and has not complied with the Supreme Court’s order and regulations to her.”
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
