The Minority in Parliament staged a dramatic walkout on Tuesday, July 22, during the swearing-in of Ewurabena Aubynn, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
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The protest was triggered after Speaker Alban Bagbin barred the Minority from making comments before the ceremony. He insisted that any remarks would only be permitted after the swearing-in had been completed. Displeased with the directive, the Minority members exited the chamber.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of Aubynn’s victory in the July 11 parliamentary rerun, citing alleged electoral irregularities, violence, and voter intimidation. They accuse the NDC of manipulating the rerun to overturn the NPP’s earlier lead in the original December 2024 polls.
The rerun was ordered after the Electoral Commission (EC) annulled results from 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North due to discrepancies, unsigned pink sheets, and breaches in electoral procedure.
Despite the walkout, Speaker Bagbin proceeded with the ceremony and advised the new MP to demonstrate discipline, diligence, and dedication in serving her constituents.
Aubynn’s victory boosts the NDC’s parliamentary strength to 184 seats, alongside four independents, giving the party a commanding majority over the NPP’s 86 seats in the 275-seat legislature.
The result positions the NDC to push through critical votes, reforms, and constitutional changes that require a supermajority.
