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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 50321, member: 636"]
A judge threw out the ruling party's desperate legal bid to block a crucial election rerun on Monday. Justice Ali Baba Abature told the New Patriotic Party candidate Nana Akua Afriyie that she cannot stop the Electoral Commission from holding fresh votes at 19 polling stations. The court battle happened after the December 2024 parliamentary election left Ablekuma North without a clear winner. The judge said the commission has the right to make sure people have proper representation in Parliament. He warned that stopping the rerun would leave voters without a voice.

Afriyie's lawyers argued the commission broke the law when it called for the July 11 rerun. They claimed the electoral body ignored an earlier court order from January 4 that told officials to finish counting votes from 62 polling stations and declare a winner. Lead lawyer Gary Nimako said only three stations needed final counting, not 19 stations. He pointed out that election rules only allow reruns when candidates tie, which did not happen here. The legal team also accused the commission of showing contempt for the court system.

The commission will move ahead with preparations for the Friday vote despite the legal challenge. Officials maintain that missing paperwork and other problems require a fresh election at the 19 stations. The ruling party insists their candidate already won by 414 votes and should not face another election.
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