NDC Files EC Suit Regarding Outcomes for Five Constituencies

Jean Mensa – Chairperson of EC

In an attempt to prevent the Electoral Commission (EC) from recollecting and re-announcing the parliamentary results for the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Obuasi East constituencies, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has filed a lawsuit.

This comes after disputes regarding these constituencies' results, which have caused ambiguity and disruptions.

EC no longer has the authority "to re-collate, re-count, and re-declare the results of the already declared election results in the stated constituencies," according to the NDC's lawsuit, which was brought before an Accra High Court.

Unlawful Statements

Last Friday, the Electoral Commission ruled that the parliamentary results for the constituencies of Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central were unlawful and could not be upheld. At the Commission's offices in Accra on Friday, Mr. Samuel Tettey, the EC's deputy chairperson in charge of operations, made this news.

He clarified that the results were declared void because party members interfered, obstructing collation centres and forcing EC employees to announce the results for their favourite candidates.

NDC Suit

However, claiming that it lacks the authority to do so, the NDC has launched a lawsuit to stop the EC from conducting any sort of recollection or announcing a final winner in these constituencies. Faustina Elikplim Akurugu, Baba Sadiq, Ewurabena Aubynn, Ebi Bright, and Samuel Aboagye are more applicants in addition to the party.

In the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central constituencies, the petitioners are requesting a "order prohibiting the respondent from re-collating, re-counting, and re-declaring the already collated and declared parliamentary election results."

They seek a declaration that the High Court of Ghana, not the respondent, has the sole original jurisdiction to declare the results of the parliamentary election unlawful in accordance with Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and Section 16 of PNDCL 284.

The applicants are also requesting a declaration that the EC's position that the parliamentary results for the Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central constituencies should be declared illegal and invalid due to alleged threats from the applicants' supporters and the EC officers' failure to follow the law because of alleged threats from NDC supporters violates Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution, Sections 16 and 20 of PNDCL 284, making it null, void, and without legal force.

During its press conference last Friday, the applicants once more seek an order of certiorari quashing the EC's decision that allegedly nullified the results of the parliamentary elections in Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central. The NDC also requests an order directing the EC to submit the names of Faustina Elikplim Akurugu, Baba Sadiq, Ewurabena Aubynn, Ebi Bright, and Samuel Aboagye for publication in the gazette.

Additionally, the party requests a permanent injunction prohibiting the EC, its assigns, agents, privies, servants, employees, labourers, and anybody else working on its behalf from recollecting, recounting, or re-declaring the election results in the contested constituencies without a court's order.