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The primary elections for the National Democratic Congress(NDC) are set for Saturday, May 13, but according to the Electoral Commission (EC), supervision won’t begin until all legal concerns are settled.
The EC claims that holding the primaries would be disrespectful to the legal system because it would be an act of court disobedience.
The EC announced this on Wednesday, May 10, following meetings with representatives from each of the three NDC flagbearer candidates.
“However, yesterday we were served with an Application for Interlocutory Injunction seeking to restrain the Commission from supervising the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries due to the alleged anomalies with the register.
Gentlemen, in order that we are not cited for contempt, the Commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court,” the Chairperson of the Commission”, Madam Jean Mensa stated in a letter.
Read the letter below:
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a candidate for the presidential nomination, filed a lawsuit against the party on Tuesday as a result of what he claims are certain anomalies in the party’s voter list that would be utilized for the election.
Dr. Duffour claimed in a petition submitted to an Accra High Court that the party violated party regulations by failing to deliver the necessary picture album register five weeks prior to the elections.
He claimed that rather than in March when they had requested one, a partial photo album record was delivered to his team on May 4, just days before the polls.
He claimed that rather than in March when they had requested one, a partial photo album record was supplied to his team on May 4, a few days before the polls.
Additionally, the former finance minister requests that the party send him the entire voter register at least five weeks before the election.
Only 220 out of the 275 constituencies’ data, according to the complaint, have been verified. He claims that a remarkable list of 74,799 people has been prepared, but there is insufficient information to verify it.
Dr. Duffuor’s writ stated in part, “For no plausible reason, 3,910 eligible voters at the 220 constituencies have been disenfranchised.
He continues by arguing that the photo album released by the NDC electoral directorate with the general secretary of the party’s knowledge, assent, and implicit support will damage the election’s integrity and work against him.
“The Plaintiff adds that to their utmost surprise, upon verification, it was found that the number of constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives was 220 in number as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies indicated by the Defendant,” he stated.
“The Plaintiff adds further that an initial verification of the said 220 constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives by the 2nd Defendant established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the Photo Album Register inaccurate and unreliable for a free, fair and credible elections.”
Dr. Duffour continued that the party had ignored his plea to delay the elections until a complete picture album register was obtained.
He is requesting an interlocutory injunction from the court to prevent the May 13 elections from being held by the party and those who have been sued, including the General Secretary, Election Director, co-candidates John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu, and the Electoral Commission.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com/Louis Gyamerah
