In the highly anticipated parliamentary rerun that took place on Friday, July 11, 2025, Ewurabena Aubynn emerged victorious, giving the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a historic victory in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
After years of opposition party domination, this is the second occasion since 1992 that the ruling party has claimed a seat held by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Months of legal and electoral challenges resulting from the general election held on December 7, 2024, were finally resolved with the rerun, which was held in 19 polling stations.
After Friday’s rerun, NDC’s Ewurabena Aubynn polled 34, 090 votes while NPP’s Akua Afriyie polled 33, 881 votes.
After the Electoral Commission (EC) withheld a final declaration for the parliamentary seat due to claims of irregularities and the submission of unauthenticated pink sheets, that first contest ended in a stalemate.
Chronology of Events
After the December election, both the NPP and NDC claimed victory. The NPP insisted their candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, had won with a margin of 414 votes. However, challenges over unendorsed pink sheets from 19 polling stations led to confusion during collation.
A High Court ruling in January 2025 directed the EC to resume and complete the collation process, but fresh disputes and missing signatures forced the Commission to announce a rerun.
At first, the NPP leadership declared that the rerun would be boycotted, calling the EC’s decision a betrayal of electoral justice. But in a stunning turn of events, Nana Akua Afriyie disregarded the party’s order and returned to the contest with a small but growing following among party leaders and grassroots supporters.
Tense Campaign and Chaotic Election Day
The days leading up to the rerun were fraught with political tension. The NDC launched a full-scale campaign led by regional and national figures. Ewurabena Aubynn, presented herself as a symbol of change and accountability, especially appealing to younger voters and floating constituents.
But on election day, there was turmoil and violence during the voting process. After unidentified individuals interrupted at least one polling station, former Fisheries Minister Hawa Koomson and Nana Akua Afriyie were attacked.
The Ghana Police Service later announced the interdiction of an officer caught on video assaulting a journalist. Despite these incidents, voting proceeded across all 19 stations and ended peacefully in most areas.
Victory for Ewurabena Aubynn
By the close of counting on Friday night, provisional results confirmed that Ewurabena Aubynn had won the rerun, securing enough votes to clinch the Ablekuma North seat.
A Stunning Blow to NPP Stronghold
With the NPP winning the seat in each election since its founding, Ablekuma North has traditionally been seen as a safe seat for the party. The results of Friday mark a dramatic change in the Greater Accra Region’s political climate, as a number of formerly secure seats are now up for grabs.
Spectators think the NPP may have lost important support as a result of internal conflict, contradictory signals regarding rerun participation, and the violent events on election day.