A former Attorney General Martin Amidu has said the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission from day one “rigged” the December 7 polls in favour of her "preferred candidates".
In his latest article he wrote: “There can be no free, transparent and fair elections when any of the disqualified aspiring candidates and any political party sponsoring them have their names added to the ballot more than three weeks belatedly, because the Commissioner’s preferred and approved candidates would have had an unequal advantage over them in the contest for the Presidency.”
“Nobody can convince such candidates, their political parties, and supporters and the objective observer that they had a level playing field for the 7th December 2016 elections within the letter and spirit of the constitution. The Commissioner has effectively rigged the election from day one against them. I have already said elsewhere that this Commissioner was appointed with a rigging agenda. Let us as citizens defend the Constitution by watching her every step during this election,” he added.
Below is Mr Amidu’s full statement:
THE INEXPERIENCE, INCOMPETENCE AND ARROGANCE OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER IS BECOMING DANGEROUS – MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU
The Electoral Commissioner does not appear to understand that the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution on the representation of the people enjoins her to ensure that every political party and its aspiring presidential candidate or an individual aspirant has equal time and opportunity to canvass for the votes of the electorate.
This is why the statement made on behalf of the Commissioner and published on myjoyonline of 2nd November 2016 stating that the Commissioner “will be able to pull off successful parliamentary on (sic) presidential elections on December 7 notwithstanding law suits threatening the process” demonstrates once more the incompetence, inexperience and utter lack of understanding of the letter and the spirit of the 1992 Constitution mandating the Commissioner to supervise the organization of a free, transparent and fair multiparty Presidential Elections.
The election date of 7th December 2016 is just about a month away and the Commissioner has the impudence to tell citizen voters that she is capable of conducting the elections within two weeks forgetting that her pride, intransigence and arrogance are already depriving the aspiring candidates of political parties and others who may eventually qualify to be on the ballot of their constitutional right to equal opportunity and time to canvass the electorate for their votes before the elections. Printing ballot papers for the presidential election means nothing to the rights of a political party and its candidate or individual aspiring candidates and their supporters who might have been deprived of an equal, fair and transparent right to participate in the electioneering campaign “intended to influence the composition and policies of the Government” to be elected.
Every citizen has a fundamental guaranteed right to join a political party and to participate freely with that political party in shaping the political will of the people, to disseminate information on political ideas and other programmes and to sponsor candidates to the office of the President of Ghana. Such a guaranteed right is rendered nugatory and pointless when candidates have only two weeks to canvass the electorate for support for the elections on 7th December 2016.
There can be no free, transparent and fair elections when any of the disqualified aspiring candidates and any political party sponsoring them have their names added to the ballot more than three weeks belatedly, because the Commissioner’s preferred and approved candidates would have had an unequal advantage over them in the contest for the Presidency. Nobody can convince such candidates, their political parties, and supporters and the objective observer that they had a level playing field for the 7th December 2016 elections within the letter and spirit of the constitution.
The Commissioner has effectively rigged the election from day one against them. I have already said elsewhere that this Commissioner was appointed with a rigging agenda. Let us as citizens defend the Constitution by watching her every step during this election.
Martin A. B. K. Amidu 2nd November 2016
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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A toxic mixture of hatred and bitterness is boiling in Martin Amidu. He is now exhibiting a high level of envy and bbitterness against Prez Mahama. Eventhough i don't support NDC, i think Martin Amidu should not bring in Prez Mahama in this EC issue. Becos Martin Amidu was the running mate to Prof Mills and they failed to win the elections in 2004, he is now bitter becos he was dropped and Prez Mahama was chosen in 2008 which eventually saw the NDC in power. We should all note that, our chances in life may not be the same. We should stop envy and jealousy. Martin Amidu can never change anything in Prez Mahama's life again. He is already the president of Ghana.
I thought Martin would once be wise and say the case is in the Supreme Court so lets all wait and be patient for the judgment, but no, the same skin-pain, hidden anti-NDC agenda. Ndoun can go to court but EC cannot go to court, what absurdity. If EC has a case against PPP, how does it inure to the benefit of NDC and the Govt. My cousin made a mistake on his legon forms, he was denied admission despite his good grades. People have been sacked from both the military and police and faced prosecutions for fraudulent misrepresentation. What is Martin talking about. NDC should be bold to sack such miscreants from the party. Every election time, Martin would solicit and instigate unnecessary fights between himself and the NDC, all meant to derail the NDC. Stop the skin-pain, you were not appointed the EC Boss, Charlotte has, if you don't understand go burn the sea.
kofi, it is right you said voters are more sophisticated. and that things are difficult. That is why it is imperative to vote for the one who is visionary like Nana Addo to create more opportunities for people to have a turned around life. so I implore you to join the many suffering Ghanaians change Mahama for a better life.
in this sense i guess MARTIN AMIDU is a criminal and must be arrested because he has been part of the NDC rigging mechanism since the rigging of elections started with the Rawling's regime with him (AMIDU)playing an important role.he should stop the war mongering and his conspicuous hatred for PRESIDENT MAHAMA.
Disgruntled Martin Amidu you have become a loose cannon firing at the Electoral Commissioner like you are at a firing range. This is turning into absurdity on your part. We respect your legal credentials but that is not the license to become a loose cannon. We would peacefully and the EC would declare the winner after 72.hours.and winner would be sworn in on 7th January 2017 .
Martin should stop behaving as if he is an ant hill of knowledge.If the commissioner is exercising the legal requirements of the commission,is that rigging ?. For as to achieve some level of discipline,we must allow rules to work not Ghanaian-way of favor.Core democracies work with rules not because someone is popular so we should allow any anomaly to be overlooked. We should allow institutions of states to work and stop this kind of book long Vernon we spew into the public domain.
when you are an adult behave like one , for what ever you sow so shall you, your children and the entire family shall reap . Do unto others what you want them to do unto you.
WHAT TROUBLE? FIGMENT OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION.EMPTY BARRELS.
GOD BLESS MR. AMIDU FOR THE GOOD WORD YOU HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THIS NATION. INDEED YOU HAVE THIS NATION AT HEART. IT IS VERY TRUE THIS WOMAN WAS APPOINTED WITH A RIGGING AGENDA COS THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS THEY HAVE FAILED THE PEOPLE OF GHANA. BUT GOD IS WATCHING THEIR STEPS THIS DECEMBER POLLS. GHANA WILL BE VICTORIOUS IN JESUS NAME
Martin is one of the few Snr Citizens with conscience. The Truth! This Charlotte woman is not honest and truthful yet that 'big' church on the Spintex Road hails her and refers to her as a woman of God. tweaaa! you guys think God is moved by how you describe individuals on earth? No way. If she fears God or it's in her to do good we would have seen it. I hope she will still be the EC Chair in the next 50 years. God is waiting for us all.