APC fights EC over disqualification

Hassan Ayariga, Presidential Hopeful for All Peoples Congress (APC) is in court contesting his disqualification by the Electoral Commission (EC) from taking part in the December 7 polls.

At Wednesday’s hearing the Court presided over by Mrs Barbara Tetteh Charwey abridged time for hearing to quick start and ensure a speedy resolution of the matter.

The court however ordered the EC and APC to file their statements of case by Friday October 28.

The parties are expected to make oral or verbal application if any on October 31.

A date for judgement would be fixed after listening to oral and verbal applications in court.

The APC Presidential Hopeful contends that the EC has no power to disqualify him and as such seeking the orders of the court to compel the commission to accept his nomination form and include his name on this year’s Presidential Ballot.

According to Mr Ayariga even if the EC had the powers to disqualify him, “Its failure to adhere to due process was so unjust and perverted as to deprive the commission of its powers.”

He was therefore seeking a declaration that the EC’s closure of the nomination period on October 10, without notifying the applicants of any outstanding issues amounted in law to a representation to all candidates and whole world that the applicants nomination form were fully compliant with all requirement of the law and CI 94.

Mr Ayariga is also seeking a declaration that the purported closure of the nomination period before or without giving him an opportunity to amend  any error on his form based on which the EC seeks to invalidate was in breach of natural justice.

He also requesting the court to declare that the EC could only disqualify a candidate “where it has notified that candidate of an invalidity which the candidate refuses or fail to amend.”

Mr Thaddeus Sory represented EC while Mr Maxwell Kobina Loghan represented APC.

Source: GNA