The flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has blamed the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for his disqualification from the presidential race
According to him, the blunder that has cost him his presidential ambition would have been avoided if the Commission had educated the electorate not to endorse more than one person.
The EC at the close of filing nominations said it was unable to accept Dr. Ayariga’s nomination two subscribers to Dr. Ayariga’s nominations also subscribed for another presidential candidate, an act which is in breach of Regulation 7(4) of CI 94.
It also stated that, the APC leader did not provide evidence on his statutory declaration as to his hometown or residence in the constituency as per the legal requirements.
The EC also said the APC flagbearer’s forms had forged signatures of other people on it, and hence will be referred to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution, in line with section 211, 248, 251, 256 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
But Hassan Ayariga maintained that the NCCE has failed to educate the electorate on their civil rights and responsibilities.
“It is the duty of the NCCE to educate the people on how many people to endorse so if these common mistakes are happening then it means they didn’t do a good job” he fumed.
Hassan Ayariga maintained that, ignorance on the part of the person who endorsed his form cannot form the basis for his disqualification.
He said political parties cannot be blamed for the mistakes of the NCCE thus he is confident of victory in his suit against the Electoral Commission.
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