Court to Rule on the Collation of Disputed Constituencies Today
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Electoral Commission (EC) are due to appear in court on Tuesday, December 31, to resolve the ongoing disputes over the collation of election results in several contested constituencies, including Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central.
This legal matter follows a significant development in the case: the Supreme Court recently overturned a High Court ruling that had granted an application from the NPP, requiring the EC to conduct re-collations of election results in constituencies initially declared in favor of the NDC. The re-collation process, which was ordered by the High Court, led to the EC declaring NPP candidates as the winners in seven constituencies that had previously been won by NDC candidates.
In response to this decision, the NDC filed a petition with the Supreme Court, claiming that their candidates’ rights to natural justice had been violated. The party argued that they were denied a proper hearing in the High Court before the re-collation of results was ordered. In addition, the NDC alleged that the presiding judge had shown bias in favor of the NPP.
After reviewing the case, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the NDC candidates’ right to a fair hearing had been infringed upon due to the lack of due process in the High Court’s decision. As a result, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s ruling. However, the Court did not find sufficient evidence to support the NDC’s accusations of bias on the part of the judge. Despite this, the Supreme Court directed that the case be reassigned to a new judge for further adjudication.
With the case now in the hands of the High Court, the court is tasked with deciding the fate of the disputed constituencies, including Techiman South, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, and Tema Central. These constituencies have become a focal point in the ongoing legal battle, and the court’s decision on Tuesday will be critical in determining the final outcome of the elections in these areas.
The implications of this case are far-reaching, as it could potentially alter the results of the 2024 elections in these contested constituencies. The legal proceedings have sparked significant political tension, with both the NPP and NDC fiercely contesting the validity of the results.
For the NPP, the re-collation of results was seen as a way to correct what they believed were errors or discrepancies in the initial count. The party celebrated the EC’s decision to declare their candidates as the winners in the affected constituencies. However, the NDC has firmly rejected the process, insisting that the results were valid and that the re-collations were an attempt to undermine their candidates’ victories.
As the case progresses, both parties will continue to closely monitor the legal developments, hoping for a favorable outcome that will solidify their positions in the newly elected Parliament. With the final judgment from the High Court expected to be delivered soon, the outcome will be a crucial turning point in the post-election political landscape, potentially reshaping the power balance in the country’s legislature.
The court’s ruling will also have implications for the EC’s role and its conduct in future elections, as well as the broader public trust in the electoral process. As the political parties prepare for the court’s decision, there is a growing sense of anticipation about how the legal dispute will ultimately shape the future of Ghana’s political scene.
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