The Judge who ruled for the rerun of Kpandai seat has explained that the anomalies in the pink sheets can not be limited to only the 41 disputed polling stations.
Justice Maneul Bart-Plange Brew observed that the evidence presented by both parties lacks coherence, as it is marred by inconsistencies in numerical data, unclear figures, unexplained cancellations, and other irregularities.
The minority in parliament has condemned the judge’s verdict, questioning how a petition regarding 41 pink sheets could result in the declaration of a complete rerun of all 150 polling stations.
The Judge, in his written address, stated that numerous entries within the 41 pink sheets submitted exhibited substantial discrepancies. A single pink sheet documented 1,422 votes in a column that did not align with any associated figures, while in other cases, the Electoral Commission’s results significantly diverged from those presented by the petitioner.
He referenced the results from Kpalung Primary School as proof of potential irregularities that could affect all 150 pink sheets outcomes. According to the findings, the EC’s pink sheet documented 261 votes in a category where the petitioner’s account indicated 325.
He indicated that despite the presence of 41 pink sheets, irregularities are evident across all of them, suggesting that the remaining 109 pink sheets, which have not yet been examined, could potentially have similar discrepancies.
Also, Judge Brew hinted on either the destruction or unavailability of BVD machines, electoral materials or original materials as part of reasons for the irregularities.
He said that a single vote might be pivotal, discounting disparities numbering in the hundreds as “trivial” as he indicated that such irregularities undermines election integrity. He noted that scientific arithmetic allows for no such basic errors, particularly from a legally constituted entity such as the EC.
Judge Brew believes the errors may be many and not limited to only the 41 pink sheets and the best solution is for a total rerun of the 150 polling stations.
