NDC’s preliminary objection hearing adjourned to 1st January 2025.
The High Court has adjourned the hearing of the preliminary objection raised by the NDC in regards to the NPP’s Mandamus application, in which the NDC is seeking to prevent the Electoral commission from re-collating results from 4 constituencies, which are Tema Central, Ablekuma North, Okaikwei Central, Techiman South.
Recall that the Supreme Court squashed a ruling made by the High court last week which gave the EC the go ahead to re-collate results for some constituencies, and after that re-collation, the results which were earlier on in favour of the NDC, turned to be in favor of the NPP.
A move that the NDC didn’t take lightly reason why they took the matter to the Supreme Court and the verdict was the quashing of that Mandamus application as the Supreme Court believed that, the High court should have given the NDC a fair hearing on why they do not want the EC to re-collate the results and that denying them that, was a breach of natural justice.
Today 31st December 2024, a new judge was assigned to the case in the High court and arguments made by lawyers for both parties but in the end, the NDC will be given a chance to finally make their preliminary objection and that would determine whether the court will uphold it or not.
If the court listens to the arguments of the NDC and rules in their favor, it means the 4 NDC PCs for those 4 constituencies can be sworn in on January 7th as MPs, and if the NPP disagrees, they will then have a choice to appeal the decision if they want to.
If the NDC’s arguments do not find favor in the eyes of the courts, then a re-collation is possible, or even the previous re-collation done by the EC will be upheld or maybe there can even be a re-voting.
It’s not our place to make such determinations for the court, but we believe that the court will make a decision based on the facts and evidence the two parties present and the logical arguments the various lawyers will make.
This is interesting. We will update you on what happens tomorrow. This is Ghbase.——Thanks for reading.