The Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has reacted to the Electoral Commission’s decision to pull out of the National Democratic Congress upcoming elections due to the application of an injunction filed by Dr. Kwabena Duffour.
On Wednesday, May 10, the Electoral Commission (EC) noted that it will not supervise the National Democratic Congress’ primaries scheduled for Saturday, May 13, until all legal issues associated with them are resolved.
According to the EC, going ahead to organise the primaries will be disrespecting the judiciary since it amounts to contempt of court.
“However, yesterday we were served with an Application for Interlocutory Injunction seeking to restrain the Commission from supervising the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries due to the alleged anomalies with the register.
“Gentlemen, in order that we are not cited for contempt, the Commission has taken the decision not to supervise the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections until after the determination of the case by the court,” the Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Jean Mensa said.
Responding to the EC’s press statement, Franklin Cudjoe argued that the standard the Commission is setting based on the interlocutory injunction filed by an aspirant of the NDC must be followed accordingly should there be other injunctions filed against it in the future.
According to the social-political commentator, by this precedent, it will be difficult for the Electoral Commission to discharge its mandate going forward.
The IMANI boss urged the EC to be ready to postpone the Kumawu bye-election and halt the limited registration exercise immediately after it is served with an injunction application.
He said Jean Mensah and her EC’s decision was politically motivated and had nothing to do with the law.
“Jean Mensah and her EC must be ready to live by the precedent it set today by pulling out of the NDC’s election because of an application for an injunction. The decision was politically motivated and had nothing to do with the law.
By this decision, the EC should be ready to postpone the Kumawu bye-election immediately after it is served with an injunction application. The EC should be ready to halt the limited registration exercise immediately after it is served with an injunction application. By this precedent, it will be difficult for the EC to discharge its mandate going forward. It will give room for mischief makers to disturb the EC with injunction applications. They think they are doing the NDC. Time will tell.” Franklin Cudjoe wrote
