Court to rule on PPP’s case October 28
An Accra High Court will on Friday October 28, rule on the case by the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) challenging the disqualification of its presidential candidate by the Electoral Commission for contesting this year”s presidential elections. .
The PPP had gone to court to challenge the EC’s decision to disqualify its flag bearer Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, from contesting the presidential elections.
Dr Nduom represented the PPP in court while Mrs Georgina Opoku Amankwa represented the EC.
At today’s sitting the lawyers for the two parties took turns to make oral arguments after they had filed their statement of case and supplementary affidavits.
Mr Ayikoi Otoo, Counsel for PPP prayed the court to grant their application to amend any anomaly found in his client”s nomination form’s and directs the EC to accept the forms.
He prayed the court to further grant them an order of prohibition to restrain the EC from balloting for positions in the December polls.
Mr Ayikoi Otoo urged the Court to grant the request because the EC’s disqualification breached the rules of natural justice and that the case was about quashing the decision of the EC.
Mr Thaddeus Sory who represented the EC opposed the application and noted that on the face of law, the EC “who is the Returning Officer shall inform the candidate it had disqualified and it did that.
According to Mr Sory the EC had not erred and rather the PPP should have come to the court to apologise for the error committed.
Hundreds of PPP supporters adorned in party colours, thronged the court amidst singing and dancing despite the presence of the Police.
Mr Otoo who later spoke to the media said they would proceed to the Supreme Court if the ruling went against the party.
PPP had gone to court seeking an order of the Court to restrain Mrs Charlotte Osei, Chairman of the EC from disqualifying Dr Nduom from contesting the December Presidential election.
Dr Nduom is praying the Court to stop the EC from proceeding with the balloting for the positions of Presidential Candidates for the December 7, polls.
PPP is also seeking an order directed at the Electoral Commissioner to grant Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the PPP the opportunity to amend and alter the anomaly found on his nomination papers and accept his nomination as amended to contest in the Polls as it”s presidential candidate.
The PPP contends that his disqualification was in breach of the rules of natural justice and an error on the face of the record
On October 10, the EC disqualified the PPP and 12 others for various errors on their nomination forms submitted to the Commission.
Source: GNA