NPP Congress Date Ruling Slated For October 3

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Court
Court

A Fast Track High Court has fixed October 3, to rule on the application challenging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) congress slated for October 18 to elect the party?s presidential candidate for Elections 2016.

Court
Court

This came up after the court had listened to submissions from the lawyers in the matter.

Two NPP members, Rexford Agyei Frimpong and Oppong Kyekyeku, have gone to court to seek an order against the National Council to comply with the provision of the party?s constitution and fix a new date for the congress.

According to the two plaintiffs the October 18, date would not give flag bearer aspirants ample time to reach the more than 140,000 delegates across the country.

They contended that the actual date for electing a presidential candidate should be on December 6, this year if the party is to adhere to the six months period as stated by the constitution of the party.

Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for the defendants opposed the application saying the applicants had no legal rights to institute the action against the party.

Mr Dame noted that the application was a clear violation of the NPP constitution, adding they had failed to demonstrate to the court why they were in court.

According to Mr Dame if the capacity of plaintiffs was to challenge; then they needed to prove their capacity without waiting till the merit of the case was determined.

He challenged the membership of the plaintiffs noting that they had not displayed their members in any of the documents before the court.

Counsel was of the opinion that if the status quo is maintained it would result in an untold hardship and bring about inconvenience for the party.

Mr Dame said election of the party?s presidential candidate is a process that includes filing of nominations, vetting of candidates and holding of special congress.

?A moving train cannot be stopped,? he added.

According to him plaintiffs failed to exhaust the internal mechanism of the party saying in the petition, the plaintiffs addressed the party chairman instead of the National Council.

He noted that the National Council has the power to review its decisions as well as intervene in matters affecting the party.

These matters, he said included fixing of date for congress among others.

Mr Eric Kwame Atieku counsel for the plaintiffs contended that if the application was refused they would suffer greater hardship.

Mr Atieku noted that the party?s constitution is the spirit of the members and therefore expect its proper interpretation.

According to Mr Atieku on the balance of convenience, the party would degenerate into state of confusion if the application is refused noting that the October 18, congress was in breach of the party?s constitution.

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