NPP's term limits suit risks turning Supreme Court into 'personal lawyer' - Abdulai

Private legal practitioner Justice Abdulai has questioned the basis of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) suit at the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of presidential term limits, arguing that the court should not be used to resolve speculative political disputes.

He said the Supreme Court was not required to interpret the Constitution in the absence of a genuine legal controversy and should focus on substantive legal issues rather than hypothetical situations.

NPP files suit at Supreme Court to challenge John Mahama's eligibility for another term

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Justice Abdulai questioned whether the court would assume jurisdiction over the NPP’s case, which seeks clarification on how the constitutional limit on presidential terms should be applied.

“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court is not your lawyer. As they have themselves said, they are not anybody’s lawyer to explain the Constitution to anyone. They are there to deal with serious life issues, not to deal with somebody’s speculations and become the personal lawyer for two feuding parties. That’s not their job,” he said.

Justice Abdulai argued that the speculative nature of the case could make it difficult for the Supreme Court to establish a proper basis for exercising its jurisdiction.

However, he said a definitive interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions would be useful in preventing future presidents from exploiting possible gaps in the law to extend their stay in office.

The NPP has filed a suit at the Supreme Court seeking clarification on whether the constitutional limit of two presidential terms applies only to consecutive terms or also covers non-consecutive terms.

The case has sparked public debate over whether President John Dramani Mahama, who has served two non-consecutive terms, can contest the 2028 presidential election, although he has consistently stated that he will not seek another term.

NA/MA