Wa East: Petition Against Unconstitutional Conduct of Branch Elections – Concern Members of NDC, Kulkpong Branch

We, the undersigned members of the Kulkpong Branches of the Wa East Constituency, respectfully submit this petition to the Constituency Executive Committee of the Wa East Constituency to formally challenge the conduct of the Elections Directorate in relation to the Branch elections scheduled and conducted on 10th July 2026.

We seek an immediate investigation and appropriate remedial action into the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the elections, which, in our considered view, violated key provisions of the Party’s Constitution and Branch Election Guidelines, thereby compromising the fairness, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process.

We are duly qualified members of the Party under Section 2 of the Party’s Branch Election Guidelines. We are registered members of the Branches, have actively participated in Party activities within the required period, and have fulfilled our obligations, including payment of membership dues.

Our qualification to contest and vote is therefore not in dispute.
Our complaint relates specifically to the manner in which the Elections Directorate managed the electoral process and the subsequent denial of members’ democratic rights to participate in a free, fair, and transparent election.

Grounds of Petition:

From the outset, the Elections Directorate failed to respect the procedural safeguards intended to ensure broad participation. Section 3.5 requires a minimum period between the announcement of Branch elections and the conduct of polls to limit interference and to give members adequate time to prepare.

Contrary to this requirement, the Directorate repeatedly kept changing the election date without providing sufficient notice. That is; the election date was change from 29th day of June, 2026 to 8th July, 2026 with reasons that, tensions were high in the constituency. It was further changed from 8th July, 2026 to 10th July, 2026 because a group of aspirants claimed they were not ready.

All these postponements of the election were at the instance of the aspirants who decided that there should not be an election.
These frequent changes deprived many eligible members of the opportunity to participate, undermining the legitimacy of the process and breaching the clear mandate of Section 3.5 of the party’s regulations.

Failure to Conduct the Election in Accordance with the Constitution and Election Guidelines The Elections Directorate failed to comply with the fundamental rules governing the conduct of Branch elections.

Section 4.3 of the Branch Election Guidelines provides that an aspirant who obtains the highest number of votes (simple majority) shall be declared elected. Section 7 further provides that voting shall be conducted through a show of hands or by consensus, and prohibits proxy voting.

On 10th July 2026, being the election day, the following aspirants voluntarily stepped down from the contest:

Sidik Adams – Treasurer Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 2

Abu Jakalia Treasurer Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 1

Iddrisu Shaibu – Youth Organizer Aspirant, Kulkpong 2

Their decisions to withdraw were voluntary and were communicated to members present at the election venue.

However, on the same day, the following aspirants left the election grounds, indicating that they did not wish to participate in the contest:

Dery Jato John Secretary Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 1

Seidu Shaibu – Organizer Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 1

Ziema Belinbeyi Women Organizer Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 1

Osman Zakaria – Chairman Aspirant, Kulkpong Primary 2

Furthermore, some aspirants were absent, while others were treated as having gone unopposed. Despite these circumstances, no proper election was conducted in accordance with the Party’s rules.

There was no transparent show-of-hands voting, no consensus process involving members, no recorded vote counts, and no opportunity for eligible members to exercise their constitutional right to elect their leaders.

It is important to note that Kulkpong Primary 1 and Primary 2 Branches experienced similar challenges during the previous Branch elections four years ago, where delegates were reportedly recorded without a proper election process.

We are informed that some members from the previous administration have maintained the position that certain positions should remain uncontested, as though such positions are personal possessions.

This position is inconsistent with Article 14 of the Party’s Constitution, which requires that Branch elections be conducted at the end of every tenure, regardless of whether an aspirant believes he or she can win or prefers to remain unopposed.

The Constitution, being the supreme law of the Party, does not permit individuals to determine whether elections should be held.

The events of 10th July 2026 did not reflect the democratic principles intended by the Party Constitution. The absence of a legitimate voting process renders any declaration arising from the process invalid.

Rules and laws are made to govern the conduct of the society or a group and to help avoid anarchy and chaos, we must all adhere to the governing rules and not seek to change rules for our personal benefit.

Compounding these breaches, the Elections Directorate failed to comply with Section 4.4, which requires that the names and contact details of aspirants and the votes obtained by each be recorded and submitted to the Constituency Executive Committee, with a copy retained at the Branch.

No such record was produced or made available to the Branch membership. The failure to record and submit vote tallies and candidate details stinks of foul play on the part of the elections directorate.

The breaches do not portray the name of our constituency and Region in good light. It even opens us up for litigation. In light of these breaches, we respectfully request the Regional Executive Committee and the Constituency Executive Committee to take the following actions:
a. Order a fresh election to be held in strict compliance with Sections 3, 4, and 7 of the Branch Guidelines.

b. Ensure that the fresh election is conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner, with proper documentation of proceedings and official recording of results.

c. That where an aspirant voluntarily withdrew from the contest on the election day and such withdrawal was duly communicated to the Elections Directorate and members present, the duly qualified co contestant for that position should be declared elected.

We submit this petition in good faith and with the conviction that adherence to the Party Constitution and Branch Guidelines is essential to the integrity of our internal democracy.

We ask the Committee to act promptly to restore confidence among members, to ensure that future Branch elections are free, fair, and transparent, and to protect the rights of all qualified members to participate fully in the Party’s democratic processes.

However, if constrained we will be left with no option but to seek redress at the appropriate forum.

Respectfully submitted by the petitioners of Kulkpong Primary 1 and 2.

PETITIONER’S NAME
MEMBERSHIP NO.
PHONE NO.