“This one is the reset in reverse” – Kpebu on Agbenyo’s EC appointment

Legal expert Martin Kpebu expressed his doubts about President John Dramani Mahama's re-election prospects if the recent Electoral Commission (EC) appointments persist. During an appearance on TV3’s The Key Points, Mr Kpebu vehemently criticized the appointment and swearing-in of Emelia Affi Agbenyo as a Deputy Chairperson of the EC, describing it as a "reset in reverse" and questioning its sustainability.

The lawyer accused Mahama of reversing the reset he had promised, stating that the appointment was not sustainable and that only two years remain until the next election.

Kpebu lamented that he and others had been raising concerns for years about politically linked appointments to the EC, starting with Jean Mensa's appointment and continuing with those of Dr Peter Appiahene and Salima Ahmed Tijani. He emphasized that the NDC had raised objections about the EC’s Director of IT in 2024, and that the appointing of such individuals was part of a "strong race to the bottom."

The lawyer pointed out that Mahama had previously criticized the NDC for placing party members on the EC during opposition, questioning why he would make such an appointment given the president's lead of about 1.7 million votes in the last election. He urged Ghanaians to make their voices heard in the lead-up to the polls, warning that the government's actions could have consequences.

He acknowledged that complaining alone was not enough, and urged Ghanaians to think concretely about how to hold the government accountable for the appointment. Ms Agbenyo's previous involvement with the NDC, particularly her role in the party's manifesto committee ahead of the 2024 elections, has raised concerns about the EC’s perceived impartiality.