The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has criticised the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) for marching to the Police Headquarters over the delay in the Ablekuma North election results, describing the protest as unnecessary and misdirected.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, June 5, he argued that the demonstration appeared more like a publicity stunt aimed at gaining media attention than a genuine democratic exercise to resolve a constitutional issue.
Vanderpuye emphasised that the Minority MPs were fully aware that the Electoral Commission (EC), not the police, is the legally mandated body to declare election results.
By opting to protest at the Police Headquarters rather than engaging the Electoral Commission directly or pursuing legal channels, he suggested the MPs were more focused on creating a public spectacle to gain sympathy than seeking a meaningful resolution.
“I think it is a simple fact that some of them have developed bellies, and they want to exercise so that they reduce the fat around their bellies. Because, seriously speaking, I do not think this is necessary,” he stated.
He questioned the rationale behind petitioning the Inspector General of Police (IGP) rather than addressing their concerns directly to the Electoral Commission (EC), which is constitutionally mandated to declare election results.
“Your petition should go to the EC, not the IGP. The IGP does not conduct elections, and they should know that. It is the EC that conducts elections, so why do you march to the police quarters? Their action is a misplaced priority. My advice is that if they think the EC has reneged on its responsibility, they can go to court and, through the court, ask the EC to fulfil its mandate or petition the EC itself,” he added.
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