Flagbearer Aspirant of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Duffour has filed a suit against the party following what he described as some discrepancies identified in the voters register ahead of the May 13 primaries.
In a writ filed at an Accra High Court, Dr Duffour argued that the party had failed to provide the required photo album register five weeks ahead of the elections as stated in the party’s rules.
The former finance minister had raised concerns about the credibility of the photo album register and asked the party to postpone its upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries until the proper thing was done.
But, the party has turned down his request, while some officials accused his team of bad faith.
Per the writ filed on Tuesday, May 9, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana is seeking three main reliefs namely;
a. A declaration that the Photo Album Register issued by the 1st and 2nd Defendants to the Plaintiff on 4ht May, 2023 as the primary document for conducting the internal Presidential election of the National Democratic Congress on the 13th of May, 2023 is incomplete and inaccurate.
b. An order directing the 1st and 2nd Defendants to prepare and deliver a complete and accurate Photo Album Register to the Plaintiff and other Presidential aspirants of theNational Democratic Congress at least five weeks ahead of the elections to enable the aspirants carry out the needed verification of the Photo Album Register
C. An injunction restraining the 1*, and 5′ Defendants from conducting the internal Presidential elections of the National Democratic Congress on 134 May, 2023 pending compliance with reliefs (b) supra.
“The Plaintiff adds that to their utmost surprise, upon verification, it was found that the number of constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives was 220 in number as opposed to the alleged number of 228 constituencies indicated by the Defendant,” he stated.
“The Plaintiff adds further that an initial verification of the said 220 constituencies on the hard drive given to his representatives by the 2nd Defendant established basic errors and inaccuracies that render the Photo Album Register inaccurate and unreliable for a free, fair and credible elections.”
The businessman added that despite his request for a postponement of the elections until an entire photo album register is secured, the party has failed to heed his request.
In this regard, Dr Duffuor is asking the court to grant an interlocutory injunction to restrain the party, the General Secretary, Election Director, co-contestants John Mahama and Kojo Bonsu, and the Electoral Commission – from holding the elections on Saturday, May 13.
This is “pending the production of a complete and accurate photo album register and delivery of same to the Plaintiff and other Presidential aspirants of the National Democratic Congress at least five weeks ahead of the elections as per grounds deposed to in the accompanying affidavit and for any further orders the Honourable Court may deem fit.”
