![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/xHassan-Ayariga.jpg.pagespeed.ic.AwWxZLG47H.jpg\" "\\"Hassan")
<\/a><\/div>\nThe 2016 flagbearer of the All People\u2019s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has defended President Akufo-Addo following claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the president is behind agitations at the Electoral Commission (EC).<\/p>\n
Hassan Ayariga could not fathom why members of the NDC are accusing President Akufo Addo of \u2018witch hunting\u2019 the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei.<\/p>\n
\u2018What is wrong with the NDC and what are they up to this time. Why are they defending the woman when indeed she is not a member of the NDC? Yes, Mahama appointed her and that doesn\u2019t mean they should defend her in anything unless they are telling us Charlotte Osei is an NDC member.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should find something better to do and stop defending the woman because Akufo Addo is not and can never be behind that petition\u201d he said on Accra based Okay fm.<\/p>\n
The opposition NDC has warned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to stop attempts to remove the Chairperson of the \u201cindependent\u201d EC.<\/p>\n
According to the NDC, they will resist the \u201cblackmail witch-hunting\u201d of the head of the election management body.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference Thursday, Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu cautioned the President to \u201cStay off [and stop] intruding into the operations and activities of the independent EC,\u201d adding that the NDC has tolerated the NPP hounding out Civil Servants from office since the Mr. Akufo-Addo assumed office on January 7.<\/p>\n
The warning to the NPP comes after the Electoral Commission Chairperson Charlotte Osei on Wednesday challenged the lawyer representing the so-called concerned staff of the electoral commission who are demanding her removal from office.<\/p>\n
In a statement Wednesday, lawyers for Mrs. Osei dared the law firm of Maxwell Opoku Agyeman, to provide the full details of the petitioners or face her in court.<\/p>\n
But the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has since rebuffed claims by the NDC that they are behind agitations at the Electoral Commission (EC) and the subsequent petition forwarded to President Nana Akufo-Addo for the removal of the EC boss.<\/p>\n
However, the former flagbearer of the People\u2019s National Convention (PNC), questioned the benefit President Akufo Addo and the NPP will gain if the Electoral Commission chairperson is removed from office.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat benefit is NPP and Akufo going to gain if Charlotte Osei is removed? I believe NPP is noted for the respect to constitution and will not go that far\u201d stressed.<\/p>\n
Dr Ayriga is of the firm conviction that members at the office of the EC are responsible and called on authorities to immediately investigate allegations leveled against since he believes some may be true.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not NPP members who sent a petition to the president but rather members in his office. Allegations leveled against her are serious and therefore needs to be investigated now because I believe some may be true\u201d he indicated.<\/p>\n
Listen to Hassan Ayariga<\/strong><\/em>
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/adomonline.com\/ghana-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Hassan-Ayariga.jpg\" "\\"Hassan")
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