The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the High Court in Accra to terminate the suit by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a flagbearer hopeful of the party, which seeks an injunction on the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries, come Saturday, May 13.
“We submit that the Plaintiff’s suit is incompetent and therefore ought to be dismissed in limine. Again, the Plaintiff has not been able to demonstrate on the face of his pleadings and affidavit that it is just or convenient for the Honourable Court to grant the injunction that he seeks. We, therefore, pray that the Court refuses the instant application.”
NDC
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is requesting from the Accra High Court that the hearing of an injunction motion filed against its presidential and parliamentary primaries, be brought from Monday, May 15, to either May 11 or May 12.
On Saturday, May 13, the NDC is due to elect a flagbearer and parliamentary candidates, but one of the candidates for flagbearer, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, took the party to court to get an injunction against the election.
In his writ, Dr. Duffuor expressed concerns regarding, among other things, alleged irregularities in the party’s electoral roll, which justified his action.
Due to the legal dispute, the Electoral Commission, which was in charge of overseeing the election, stayed out of it.
The NDC in its application for the abridgement of time said, “Defendants/Applicants herein will move this Honourable Court for abridgement of time for an expedited hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction herein, as per the grounds deposed to in the affidavit hereto annexed and for any order or further orders as the Honourable Court may seem fit.”
“That the Plaintiff’s application for an interlocutory injunction has been slated for the 15th May 2023, despite the fact that the NDC’s primary elections are to be held on the 13th May 2023. That in view of the exigency of the situation which is that resources in the form of time, personnel and finance have been put into the preparations for the elections, it would be more prudent and apt that the application for abridgement of time together with the application for interlocutory injunction are heard and determined on the 11th May 2023.
“That in the interest of justice that the application for interlocutory injunction be heard on an expedited basis, it is just that the instant application for abridgement of time is granted.”
NDC
In its application, the party pledged that it would refrain from any actions that may harm Dr. Duffuor’s chances of winning the presidential primary.
“That, in the likely event that the instant application is granted, the Plaintiff will not be prejudiced in any way and also no harm would be caused to the Plaintiff. That for the foregoing, in the interest of justice, I pray that the instant application is granted.”
NDC
Mahama Reacts To Duffuor’s Injunction Application
Former President John Dramani Mahama commented on the injunction request made by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a candidate in the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC), impending presidential and parliamentary primaries, against those elections.
Addressing delegates on his tour, John Dramani Mahama who is also contesting said: “We know on Saturday God willing, we have a little obstacle to cross because of an injunction one candidate has placed on the primaries but we are hopeful that some understanding can be reached, so that we go ahead with these primaries. And so, on Saturday, we will come together and vote for our parliamentary candidates and our presidential candidate.”
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