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Court agrees to hear injunction application against NDC today

The National Democratic Congress is expected in court today to move a motion for abridgement of the case brought against the party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries instead of the initial May 15, which is next  Monday.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Director of Legal Affairs, Abraham Amaliba explained that the party had applied for an abridgement of time – shortening the duration given – after flagbearer hopeful Dr Kwabena Duffuor filed a suit seeking to halt the presidential and parliamentary primaries from taking place tomorrow.

“We actually wanted Thursday, but the registry indicated to us that, that is difficult because of some issues relating to scanning of the processes that would have to take place and the judge who is going to preside must have foreknowledge of the processes, so the available time has been fixed for today,” Mr Amaliba said.

He indicated that they would move to have the suit thrown out stating that the party would suffer greatly if the injunction was granted, adding that, “the party has invested so much money in the primaries and don’t forget that delegates have started moving to their centres.

“Those in island communities who have to travel by river for a day and then go and sleep over have started moving, so, if you look at the combined effects and hardships, surely it is the party that will suffer,” the NDC’s director for legal affairs stated.

Dr Kwabena Duffuor, an aspirant of the presidential primary on Tuesday filed a suit against the party following what he said were some discrepancies his team had identified in the party’s voters’ register to be used for the exercise.

In the writ submitted to an Accra High Court, Dr Duffuor claimed that the party failed to provide the necessary photo album register in compliance with the party’s rules, five weeks prior to the elections.

He added that a partial photo album register was given to his team on May 4, although they had requested for it in March.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has said it will not supervise the primaries until all the outstanding legal issues are resolved. 

According to the EC, going ahead to supervise the primaries will be disrespectful to the judiciary and constitute contempt of the court.

However, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured its delegates and aspirants that the party’s legal team was working assiduously to ensure the presidential and parliamentary primaries comes off as scheduled despite the injunction placed on it,” a statement signed and issued in Accra by Fiifi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC.

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