Court dismisses NDC suit contesting reopening of voters’ register

Court dismisses NDC suit contesting reopening of voters’ register

The Accra High Court on Wednesday dismissed the suit by the NDC challenging the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-open the electoral roll for a one-day registration on October 1, 2020.

The court in its ruling said the NDC should have filed the suit on notice so that the EC could have been served.

However, per reports from ‘Graphic Online’ the NDC intends to refile the suit, this time on notice.

The NDC wanted the court to grant an injunction on the EC restraining it from reopening the register without first gazetting it.

The opposition party said, it is contesting the EC’s move in court because, the Commission ‘flouted’ the law which requires it to publish in the gazette, the 21 days’ notice of the planned exercise.

NDC is among other things seeking from the court “A declaration that the Electoral Commission has acted ultra vires in its attempt to reopen and/or conduct registration of voters scheduled for Thursday 1st October 2020 when the Electoral Commission has not caused to be published in the Gazette, twenty-one (21) days’ notice of this voters registration to the political parties and the general public;” the NDC averred in its statement of claim.”

The NDC also wants the Court to order the Electoral Commission to immediately comply with Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 91) for this intended exercise