Disqualification blues: More suits engulf EC
The litany of cases that has swarmed the Electoral Commission (EC) over its decision to disqualify 12 presidential aspirants was manifested yesterday when four of the disqualified aspirants stormed the Law Court Complex.
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The All People’s Congress (APC), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the People’s National Convention (PNC) and the Independent People’s Party (IPP) besieged the Accra High Court to battle the disqualification of their flag bearers by the electoral body.
Flanked by their supporters and legal teams, Dr Edward Mahama of the PNC, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the NDP, Mr Hassan Ayariga (APC) and Mr Kofi Apaloo of the IPP, took centre stage at the court during their legal “warfare” with the EC.
NDP
In the case of Nana Konadu, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, yesterday directed her and the EC to file their written addresses tomorrow.
The two parties will also appear before the court on November 4, 2016 to make their oral arguments, while the court will fix the date for the ruling of the case on the said date.
This is the second time the former First Lady has appeared in court in relation to her disqualification.
Her previous suit was dismissed by the court on procedural grounds.
In her new writ, she is seeking an order from the court to “compel the EC to accept her nomination forms and include her name on the ballot for the 2016 presidential elections”.
PNC
With regard to the PNC, the parties have also been directed by the court, presided over by Mrs Justice Novis Afua Aryen, to file their written submissions tomorrow.
That was after the court had granted an application by the legal team of the PNC for an abridgement to enable the case to be dealt with expeditiously.
Dr Mahama is seeking a declaration that the decision of the EC and its chairperson to reject his nomination forms without giving him an opportunity to be heard constituted a patent breach of his rights to natural justice, as enshrined in articles 33 (5) and 23 of the 1992 Constitution.
APC
APC’s case has reached an advanced stage as the court will give its ruling on Friday, November 4, 2016.
The APC founder wants an order from the court that will compel the EC to accept his “nomination and nomination forms and include his name on the ballot paper for the 2016 presidential election”.
IPP
In the case of Mr Apaloo of the IPP, he has now filed a suit against the EC over his disqualification.
His case will be moved by his legal team on Friday, November 4, 2016.
He is also seeking an order from the court to quash the decision of the EC to enable him to contest the December polls as a presidential candidate.