Public interest advocate Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reconsider its decision to boycott the parliamentary rerun in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency.
Speaking on TV3’s New Day on Thursday, July 10, Ayarna warned that the boycott could shift the balance of power in Parliament, potentially enabling the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to secure a two-thirds majority if it wins the contested seat.
“Some NPP members say one seat won’t make much of a difference, but in the current parliamentary landscape, that single seat could be decisive,†she stated.
Ayarna described the boycott as potentially damaging to the NPP’s political image, cautioning that a poor turnout could reflect weakness.
“It would be unfortunate if the NPP stays out and the results end up being something like 34,000 votes to 200. Regardless of the boycott, that result becomes part of our political history,†she warned.
Drawing a parallel to the NPP’s 1992 parliamentary boycott—which led to the publication of the party’s “Stolen Verdictâ€â€”Ayarna urged the party not to repeat what she called a past mistake.
“They later reflected and admitted it was a wrong move. They should have participated.â€
She emphasized the importance of democratic participation and encouraged the NPP to consider the interests of its supporters and the nation.
“ Politics is a game of numbers. Why deny your constituents the chance to vote? It’s not fair,†she said.
“It’s crucial for the party to allow its supporters to exercise their franchise—and they will want to.â€
The Electoral Commission is scheduled to rerun the election in the affected polling stations on Friday, July 11.
“ Politics is a game of numbers. Why deny your constituents the chance to vote? It’s not fair,†she said.
“It’s crucial for the party to allow its supporters to exercise their franchise—and they will want to.â€
The Electoral Commission is scheduled to rerun the election in the affected polling stations on Friday, July 11.