NDC’s legal team to meet today over court case against Kofi Adams

The legal team of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected to meet today, Tuesday, January 5, 2021, over a petition filed at the Hohoe High Court by thirteen inhabitants of the Buem constituency over the validity of the parliamentary results in that constituency.

The thirteen persons in the Oti Region on Monday, January 4, 2021, filed the motion citing the inability of some inhabitants of the constituency to exercise their franchise in the 2020 election.

The petitioners in their suit argue that they were disenfranchised given that parliamentary elections were not held in 13 electoral areas of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe, where they were expected to cast their ballot.

But the NDC’s Director of the Legal Affairs, Abraham Amaliba, says the party will take steps to address the issues raised.

He, however, said the legal team of the party has not been served with the injunction.

“We received a call that this is what has happened in Hohoe in respect of Buem, and we are yet to be served…but in the meantime, we are convening on Tuesday for an emergency meeting and have also asked to be given copies of what the NPP filed. The meeting will then determine our next line of action,” he said.

Background

The thirteen persons in the Oti Region have filed a suit challenging the election of Kofi Adams as Member of Parliament for the Buem constituency.

The petitioners in their suit argue that they were disenfranchised given that parliamentary elections were not held in 13 electoral areas of SALL where they were expected to cast their ballot.

The petitioners are therefore seeking an “order of perpetual injunction restraining Kofi Adams from holding himself out as Member of Parliament-elect for the constituency and or presenting himself to be sworn in as such.”

They are also seeking a cancellation of the elections held in the constituency and the conduct of a new one which will include the 13 electoral areas.

Kofi Adams was declared Member of Parliament-Elect for the Buem Constituency having polled 18,560 votes of the valid votes cast whiles Lawrence Kwame Aziale of the New Patriotic Party polled 6,854 votes, a difference of 11,706 votes.

But the petitioners contend that the total registered voters for the 13 electoral areas in the traditional areas of SALL are 17,764 voters.

“In the circumstance, the Petitioners will contend that if the said 17,764 voters inclusive of their good selves had not been denied their inalienable and constitutionally guaranteed right to select a Member of Parliament of their choice the outcome of the elections in the Buem Constituency could have been substantially different.”

“The petitioners will also contend that unless this Court if the demands are not met, they will be saddled with a Member of Parliament they had no say in electing.”