Surprise twist as NPP’s Akua Afriyie enters Ablekuma North rerun

In a surprising turn of events, New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate Nana Akua Afriyie will participate in the rerun of parliamentary elections in 19 polling stations within the Ablekuma North Constituency on Friday, July 11—defying her party’s official stance to boycott the process.

She announced this in an interview with Peace FM on Thursday, July 10.

This decision comes just a day after the Accra High Court dismissed an injunction application she filed to halt the Electoral Commission’s (EC) plans to rerun the disputed election.

The court ruled that the EC has a constitutional obligation to ensure representation in Parliament, and that delaying the vote would disenfranchise constituents.

The EC announced the rerun in a July 2 statement, citing irregularities and a lack of proper verification in 19 out of 37 polling stations challenged in the December 2024 parliamentary elections.

While the Commission verified results from 18 of the stations, it concluded that fresh polls were necessary in the remaining ones.

The NPP, however, has firmly opposed the decision, describing it as unconstitutional and threatening legal action.

Party officials have argued that the rerun could set a troubling precedent for future elections, and have accused the EC of being unfit for purpose, reiterating their decision not to participate.

Some political analysts have backed the EC’s position, describing the NPP’s stance as concerning.

Despite this, Nana Akua Afriyie appears determined to return to the ballot, potentially opening a new chapter in the already tense electoral standoff in the constituency.

Ablekuma North has remained without a Member of Parliament since the 2024 elections, as both the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been locked in a legal and political battle over the results.