The Electoral Commission is set to face its fifth suit from presidential candidates it disqualified as the IPP presidential candidate, Kofi Percival Akpaloo joins the fight to overturn the disqualification.
Mr. Akpaloo said he was left with no choice but to resort to the courts because the EC had failed to appreciate ‘common sense’ in dealing with him.
The Independent People’s Party (IPP) Presidential candidate explained that despite submitting 432 genuine signatures endorsing his presidential nomination form, the EC still disqualified him.
Reasons for disqualification
He said he only heard of his disqualification via a radio announcement and despite efforts to prove to the EC that his subscribers were qualified voters, the commission has been adamant.
The Commission announced that it could not accept Mr. Akpaloo’s nomination three of the 432 endorsers needed were invalid.
She explained that the three – Alfred Yevuglo Dagadu Raymond and Adu Thomas also signed for another presidential candidate in breahc of the Public Elections Regulations (CI94).
She futher explained that the signatures appeared forged and promised to report the matter to the police and the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution in line with the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The commission said the matter involved making false declaration for office or voting, deceiving a public officer, corruption, intimidation and personation in respect of election.
In the suit filed at the Accra High Court, Kofi Akpaloo said he wants the EC to ‘put me back’ into the December 7 presidential elections.
The case is expected to be heard on Thursday November 3, 2016.
The suit is the fifth the EC has to face since it disqualified a staggering number of 12 presidential candidates.
The EC is already in court defending three disqualification suits and appealing one judgment against at the Supreme Court.
In the three cases, the All People’s Congress (APC) 2016 flagbearer Hassan Ayariga, People’s National Convention (PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Edward Mahama and National Democratic Party (NDP) presidential candidate, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings are challenging their disqualifications from the race.
The pressure on the EC told after its counsel struggled to adequately represent it in court Tuesday as the cases were heard almost simultaneously.
He missed out on the hearing of two cases – PNC and NDP cases. Thaddeus Sory was only able to participate in the case of the APC.
The PPP was the first to prevail over the EC after the High Court ordered the EC to take steps to allow the party’s presidential candidate Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom to make amendments on his nomination papers.
But even before the two parties meet, the EC has gone to the Supreme Court seeking a review of the High Court’s decision.
With elections 35 days away, there are concerns that excessive litigations could undermine the process to choose the country’s next leader.
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