Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ayikoi Otoo, has questioned why the legal team representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) excluded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidates (PCs) in their application for a mandamus order.
In an interview on News File on JoyNews on Saturday, December 28, 2024, Ayikoi Otoo raised concerns about the omission, asserting that it overlooked the rights of key stakeholders in the ongoing electoral dispute.
He emphasised the importance of inclusivity in legal proceedings, warning that such an oversight could complicate the resolution of electoral conflicts and erode public confidence in the judicial process.
“I have a problem with the NPP lawyers who went to court because we all know there are interested parties in this matter.
“Usually, when you have a case like this, you must include the interested parties. So, clearly, why do you leave them out?” His remarks follow the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, 27 December, which nullified the results of the re-collation of votes in Tema Central, Ablekuma North, Techiman South, and Okaikwei Central constituencies,” he noted.
His statements come after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, December 27, 2024, which nullified the re-collation of votes in the Tema Central, Ablekuma North, Techiman South, and Okaikwei Central constituencies.
The Supreme Court ruled that the NDC parliamentary candidates had been denied their right to a fair hearing when their case was initially brought before the High Court.
It also rejected the re-collation of votes conducted by the Electoral Commission, which had led to the declaration of results in the disputed constituencies.
However, the court clarified that its ruling did not affect the results for the Ahafo Ano North and Nsawam Adoagyiri constituencies.
The court directed that the case be heard by a different judge at the High Court on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Watch the Supreme Court’s hearing of the NDC’s application against High Court ruling below:
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