Just In : Fresh Injunction Hits NDC'S May 13th Primaries

On Saturday (13 May), the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will hold its presidential and parliamentary primaries.

Edgar Asamoah Boateng of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the High Court in Adenta for an injunction against the NDC's presidential and parliamentary primaries scheduled for 13 May 2023.


In his statement of claim, Asamoah Boateng (Plaintiff), a card-carrying member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abuakwa North, expresses astonishment that the first and second defendants have failed to provide the voters register to his representatives and all other aspirants, including presidential candidates.


According to the plaintiff, the failure to provide a correct photo album of eligible voters has caused much discord and animosity within the party.


Affirmation of claim:
Plaintiff is a Ghanaian citizen and a card-carrying member of the National Democratic Congress, a political party registered in Ghana.
Plaintiff is also presently competing in the 1st Defendant's parliamentary primary election.


Plaintiff also asserts that his NDC card number is F240540024 and that he is a member of the Abuakwa North Branch of the 1st Defendant's party.
In Ghana, the 1st Defendant is a Registered Political Party.
The 2nd Defendant is the elected General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the de facto principal executive officer of the 1st Defendant Party.
The Third Defendant is the Chairman of the Party of the First Defendant.
Under the Ghanaian Constitution of 1992, the 4th Defendant is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all public elections and referenda, including those organized by the 1st Defendant.
Plaintiff asserts that the 1st Defendant's constitution requires the party to elect Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates at least twenty-four (24) months prior to the next General Election if the President of Ghana and the Member of Parliament for a particular constituency are not members.
Plaintiff asserts that because the 1st Defendant was unable to satisfy the constitutionally mandated deadlines for the 2024 general elections, the elections had to be rescheduled to 13th May, 2023.
Plaintiff asserts that 1st Defendant's inefficiency was to blame for the failure to meet constitutional deadlines.
The Plaintiff asserts that he and other members of the Party from various regions of the country submitted their nominations and were approved to compete for the 1st Defendant's nominations for the December 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary General Elections.
The Plaintiff adds that upon completion of the vetting process, he and others, including the former President of the Republic, were assured that all Parliamentary candidate aspirants and Presidential candidate aspirants would be provided with an accurate voters' register free of duplications, errors, and questionable entries so that all candidates could participate in a fair election.
Plaintiff asserts that the Second Defendant guaranteed that all candidates would be provided with a photographic register so that all eligible voters could be readily identified by polling agents and election officials at the election.
The Plaintiff adds that copies of the Photo Album Register of eligible voters for the upcoming internal elections must be distributed at least one month prior to the elections in order to provide Presidential and Parliamentary aspirants with the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the voters register in all the branches within the two hundred and seventy-five (275) constituencies of the party as part of the processes to ensure free, fair, and credible internal elections on 13 May 2023.
The Plaintiff repeats the assertion made in the preceding paragraph 13 of the Statement of Claim and adds that this measure is in accordance with best practice in modern democratic elections to ensure that the Photo Album register is complete and accurate, enhance free and fair elections, and reduce disputes over election results, and is consistent with Article 7 of the party's constitution.
Plaintiff asserts that the Fourth Defendant relies on this practice for all public elections it administers.
The Plaintiff adds that, to his surprise, the 1st and 2nd Defendants have neglected to provide the voters register to his representatives and all other candidates, including those seeking the presidency.
According to the plaintiff, the failure to provide an accurate photo album of eligible electors has caused a great deal of animosity and discord within the party.
According to the plaintiff, some party members who are also aspirants have filed a lawsuit against the party as a result of the acrimony and animosity described above.
According to the plaintiff, all efforts to procure a proper photo register or album have fallen on deaf ears, and it appears that the forthcoming internal party elections will be a disaster.
Plaintiff asserts that the 1st Defendant's contradictory directives regarding the issuance of a voter registration list are contributing to the uncertainty surrounding the credibility of the upcoming elections.
The Plaintiff contends that the 1st and 2nd Defendants' reluctance to provide a complete and credible Photo Album Register to the presidential and parliamentary candidates in advance for verification reeks of a plot to create an unfair advantage for the manipulation of the presidential and parliamentary primaries.
WHEREAS, the Plaintiff claims against the Defendants according to the endorsement on the summons.