Law lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Abdul Baasit Aziz Bamba says Presiding Officers tasked to maintain order at polling stations have the prerogative to stop disruptive electorates from voting during elections.

According to him, Presiding Officers are allowed to exercise this power if they believe anyone is causing trouble by engaging in any activity that has the propensity to impede the elections.

“The presiding officer can cause the person to be removed by just asking the Security Officer to remove him from the polling station,” he said.

Speaking Joy News' Samson Lardy Anyenini, the legal practitioner added that to address the issue of discrimination and selfish interest, the Presiding officer can only exercise this power “when it's clear that a person is engaging in a disruptive activity"

This, he said includes a decision by a person who has already voted to cause mayhem and confusion or make noise at the polling station.

He mentioned that since the constitution allows all eligible persons to vote, the Presiding Officer must allow the disruptive electorate to vote before elections are over.

Not only is this a right he says, but also the responsibility of the Presiding Officer to have the disruptive persons removed from the polling station.

Dr. Abdul Bamba however urged all Polling Agents to get their acts together in ensuring that all parties they represent do not find themselves in a situation where a Presiding Officer has to exercise his power to remove an electorate.