The Electoral Commission (EC) has changed the symbol of one of the independent candidates contesting the Parliamentary by-election in the Kumawu constituency from a bird to a hoe.
This followed tongue-wagging on social media about the similarities in the attire, names and symbols of the two independent candidates on the Notice of Poll.
The Notice of Poll circulating on social media shows the photos of the Independent Candidates with the symbol of a bird, wearing kente cloth and having the same name.
The Commission, however, explained in a statement it issued that the Notice of Police circulating on social media is only a draft that has since been worked upon.
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Both Independent Candidates, it said, presented photographs of themselves in kente and a picture of a bird as their symbol to the District Officer in Kumawu.
And based on this, a draft Notice of Poll, bearing the photograph of the Independent Candidates with
similar names, attires and symbols were prepared and submitted to the Commission for approval.
According to the Commission, the Notice was neither approved nor gazetted, indicating that a Notice of Poll becomes legal and binding only after it is gazetted.
“The version circulating on social media was never gazetted. It was a mere draft reflecting the photographs and symbols presented to the District Officer.”
“When this anomaly came to the notice of the Commission, the second Independent Candidate
was advised to change his symbol since he was the last to submit his Nomination Form.”
“He refused to do so causing the Commission to apply Regulation 14(1) (b) and (c) of the Public
Elections Regulations, 2020, C.I. 127 which states as follows: 14 (1) “Where an election is contested, the Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the nomination day; (b) allocate to a candidate who is not sponsored by a registered political party a symbol, colour or combination of colours chosen by that candidate; or (c) allocate a symbol, colour or combination of colours that the Commission considers appropriate
in any other case.”
The Commission said it has therefore assigned him the symbol of a hoe which now reflects in the Notice of Poll
posted throughout Kumawu.
It assured the Public it will not tolerate acts that are at variance with its regulations and which have the potential of undermining its hard-earned reputation and integrity.
