Go to court if you want – EC replies Konadu

The Electoral Commission (EC) has bluntly told disqualified presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party, (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings that she won’t be reinstated to contest the presidential elections.

According to the EC, the founder and leader of the NDP can go to court to have her grievances addressed, if she so wishes.

The NDP presidential candidate was among the 12 individuals disqualified by the EC on Monday over filing fee anomalies.

The others included Dr. Nduom of the PPP, Dr. Hassan Ayariga of APC, Dr. Edward Mahama of the PNC, and Dr. Henry Lartey of the GCPP.

In a letter to the EC lawyers for Mrs. Rawlings, 'Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah' said failure by the election management body to reverse the disqualification as being demanded by their client will result in a court action within the stipulated time.

NDP also asked the EC to supply them with details of the basis for their supposed disqualification.

"...It is in the interest of these that we write, first to demand that our client are entitled to under the constitution and by law. Our clients also demand that you rescind your purported disqualification and then instate the names of the party's presidential candidate and her running mate on the list of candidates for the 2016 presidential election," portions of the letter noted.

But in an 11-page response to the NDP, lawyers of the EC, Sory @ Law and signed by Thaddeus Sory outlined the reasons why Mrs. Rawlings’ nomination forms were rejected and why she cannot be reinstated to contest the December 7 polls.

Lawyers for EC added: “Having taken that decision as required by regulation 9(4) of C.I 94 which spells out the procedure for dealing with the matter, our client finds no legal basis to rescind its decision especially that the statutory provisions upon which your letter is grounded do not allow our client such discretion.

“We do not doubt your clients’ resolve to pursue their cause to the ends afforded her by the law but we trust that your client will, as dutiful citizens of the Republic of Ghana, support our client’s constitutional mandate and efforts to deliver free, fair and credible elections.

The smooth sailing process of our democratic evolution should be our mutual concern as well as primary and collective responsibility.