Vote Transfer: Trust in the Electoral Commission is Crucial – Adib Saani

“From the legal perspective, I wonder whether the EC has the power to do so, but from the security perspective, I think it is a dangerous move because it looks like the EC has suddenly become opportunistic and taking undue advantage of the situation to do things without the presence of political party agents,” Mr. Saani stated.

He continued: “Based on my research and the work I have done pre-Ivory Coast in 2008, pre-Kenya 2007, I do know that the most dangerous thing that can happen to our election is when the people cannot be confident in the EC’s ability to conduct a free and fair election.”

Background

The two major political parties, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), are at odds over the Electoral Commission’s directive for political parties to withdraw their agents from the ongoing voter transfer centers.

Ahead of the December 7, 2024, general election, the Electoral Commission commenced the transfer of votes, applications for proxy voting, and replacement of lost or damaged voter ID cards on May 30, 2024. This process is scheduled to conclude on June 14, 2024.

According to the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) governing the elections, the Electoral Commission is not required to allow political party agents to observe the transfer of votes, application for proxy voting, and replacement of lost or damaged voter ID cards.

However, according to Regulation 22 (8) of CI 127, EC returning officers are required to provide copies of the transfer of votes list to political parties and candidates upon request.