High Court places injunction on NPP polling station elections in Akim Swedru

The High Court in Akim Oda, in the Eastern Region, has issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from conducting polling station elections in the Akim Swedru Constituency scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 2026.

The injunction was granted in a suit filed by Emmanuel Nyarko and 140 others against Dominic Fobi and 20 others.

According to court documents, the order followed an ex parte motion for interlocutory injunction filed on May 7, 2026, by counsel for the plaintiffs, Theophilus Dzimega Jnr Esq., supported by affidavits and exhibits.

Presiding judge, Justice Christina Eyiah-Donkor Cann, granted the application after hearing counsel for the applicants.

The court subsequently ordered that the defendants, their agents, assigns, privies or any persons acting through them be restrained from proceeding with the polling station elections or any related internal electoral processes in the constituency pending the determination of the substantive case.

The order also bars the declaration of results from any such elections during the period of the injunction.

The interlocutory injunction is expected to remain in force for 10 days.

The order was issued under the hand and seal of the High Court in Akim Oda on May 8, 2026, and signed by Chief Registrar George Benson Awemih.

Background

The legal action stems from the reported disqualification of several party members from contesting in the NPP’s upcoming polling station elections in the constituency.

The affected members petitioned the Constituency Executive Committee, describing their exclusion from the vetting process as unfair and inconsistent with party regulations.

According to the petitioners, they responded to invitations to appear before vetting committees between April 27 and April 28, 2026, at various designated centres, including the constituency party office.

However, they alleged that upon arrival, they were turned away after being informed that their names were not captured in interim registers compiled during the party’s March 2026 membership registration exercise.



The group argued that the decision contradicts directives issued by the party’s national leadership, including General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua and National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, who introduced an online registration platform to accommodate members who were unable to register physically at polling stations or party offices.

According to the petitioners, the online registration process did not require members to subsequently record their names in manual registers, as registrants were issued unique membership identification numbers.

They therefore contend that the absence of their names in the interim record books should not have been used as grounds for disqualification.

The aggrieved members further argued that a review of the party’s February 2026 electoral guidelines and subsequent directives does not make interim registers a mandatory requirement for vetting aspirants.

They also maintained that, at the time the vetting exercise commenced, the party had not compiled a comprehensive nationwide polling station register, making reliance on incomplete data inappropriate.

Citing provisions of the party’s electoral guidelines relating to eligibility and voting, the group accused the vetting committee of misinterpreting the rules by applying voter eligibility criteria to the vetting stage of the process.

The petitioners further accused the committee of exceeding its mandate and warned that they would pursue additional action if their grievances are not addressed.

AM

President Mahama reacts to Trump White House shooting incident



'I have forgiven her' — Pentecost Chairman responds to Dr Mary Awusi