Introduction
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana is currently facing a legal challenge as one of its flagbearer hopefuls, Dr. Duffour, has taken the party to court over what he claims are inaccuracies in the party’s voters register. Dr. Duffour filed a writ at the Accra High Court, indicating that the party failed to provide the required photo album register five weeks ahead of the elections, as stated in the party’s rules.
Basis For His Claim
According to Dr. Duffour, a partial photo album register was given to his team on May 4, just a few days ahead of the elections, rather than in March when they had submitted a request for one. Further to that, upon verification, it was found that the number of constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives was 220, as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies indicated by the party.
Dr. Duffour claims that an initial verification of the 220 constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives by the party established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the photo album register unreliable for a free, fair, and credible election. Despite his request for a postponement of the elections until a full photo album register is secured, the party has failed to heed his request.
Therefore, Dr. Duffour is asking the court to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the party and sued persons – General Secretary, Election Director, co-contestants John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu, and the Electoral Commission – from holding the elections scheduled for May 13. This is pending the production of a complete and accurate photo album register and delivery of the same to Dr. Duffour and other Presidential aspirants of the NDC at least five weeks ahead of the elections.
In effect, Dr. Duffour is seeking a declaration that the photo album register issued by the party is incomplete and inaccurate, and an order that the party prepares and delivers a complete and accurate Photo Album Register to all the presidential aspirants at least five weeks ahead of the elections to enable them to carry out the necessary verification of the Photo Album Register.
This legal challenge is a significant development in the ongoing race for the flagbearership of the NDC, as it raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the party’s internal electoral processes. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on Dr Duffour’s application for an injunction and the substantive issues he has raised regarding the accuracy of the party’s voters register. However, what is clear is that this legal challenge has injected an element of uncertainty and controversy into the upcoming NDC primaries.
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