EC also barred from conducting polls….
Former Finance Minister and flagbearer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Duffour, has filed an interlocutory injunction against the party’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries slated for Saturday, May 13, 2023.
The lawsuit filed by one Lawyer Opoku Amposah, specifically named as respondents the General Secretary of the NDC, the Director of the Elections Directorate, along with fellow flagbearer hopefuls John Dramani Mahama and another contender, Kojo Bonsu.
According to the writ, the defendants, have been commanded to enter their appearance within eight days of being served with the legal documents.
The writ added that failure to comply with the order may result in a judgment being passed in their absence without further notice.
An earlier communique from the camp of Dr Duffour alleged certain irregularities and concerns regarding the integrity of the upcoming primaries, prompting him to seek legal intervention.
The suit has also barred the Electoral Commission (EC) from holding the primaries pending the production of a complete photo album register.
The former Finance Minister also wants the party to deliver the complete register to him at least five weeks ahead of the election.
According to the plaintiff, data from only 220 out of the 275 constituencies have been verified. An exceptional list of 74,799 he adds has been created which cannot also be verified because of scanty information.
For no credible reason, 3,910 eligible voters at the 220 constituencies have been disenfranchised”, Dr. Duffuor’s writ read in parts.
He further makes a point, the photo album put out by the electoral directorate of the NDC with the knowledge, consent and tacit approval of the general secretary of the party would compromise the integrity of the election to his detriment.
“The Plaintiff maintains that the reluctance to extend the time for the internal elections and provide a complete and credible photo album register ahead of time to the presidential aspirants for verification smacks of a plan to create an undue advantage for manipulation of the presidential primaries”, the motion added.
Kwabena Duffuor, had complained of some discrepancies in the party’s voter register and wanted the National Executive of the party to postpone the upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries.
In an earlier letter to the General Secretary of the NDC, Dr Duffuor’s campaign team said the call is based on the incomplete and inaccurate delegates register expected to be used for the elections.
But the party says it will not postpone its primaries on Saturday despite calls from Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, one of the flagbearer aspirants.
Its Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, said the credibility of the May 13th primaries is not questionable as the campaign team of the former Finance Minister seeks to suggest.
“Leadership is committed to resolving every issue raised so that we can have a credible election. The credibility of these elections is unquestionable, and the processes are clean enough and the processes are very transparent enough, and we are committed to conducting a credible election that is not questionable”, he told Citi News‘.
Meanwhile, the party’s Ashanti Regional branch has set up a special office at the party’s regional office in Kumasi to audit and confirm the party’s delegates album for 13th May 2023 credibility.
The move has become needful, following some concerns raised by Dr Duffuor’s team over the credibility of the voters album after his research team’s audit of the various constituencies album.
This special audit which is said to have the blessing of the National Chairman of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia is expected to check and correct any error in the album to ensure smooth and successful organization of Flagbearer and Parliamentary primaries across the country on Saturday 13th May 2023 to avoid any possible confusion.
The party believes, successful outcome of Saturday’s elections will send a strong signal to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) that they are seeking to unseat in elections 2024.
The will on 13 May elect a Flagbearer to lead the party into elections 2024.
Three respected members of the party are in the race for the position.
They include former finance minister and one time Governor of Ghana’s Central Bank (Bank of Ghana) Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Ex- President John Mahama and ex- KMA Boss, Kojo Bonsu.
