The hope of Paa Kwesi Nduom joining the 2016 presidential race is still dim as the Electoral Commission has identified 105 more errors in their nomination forms.
The flagbearer of the Progressive People's Party (PPP) was disqualified because one of his endorsers, Richard Aseda was deemed to have endorsed the candidate in the Central Region, as well as in the Volta Region, contrary to the election regulation which allowed the endorser the right to endorse in only one district.
Although the PPP admited the error, they disagreed with the EC's decision to disqualify its candidate and hence took the issue to court.
The issue ended up at the Supreme Court after the commission disagreed with the High court ruling that directed them to allow the PPP’s presidential candidate Papa Kwesi Nduom to fix his mistakes and join the race.
On Monday, the SC ruled in favour of the PPP again; ordering the commission to allow all the presidential aspirants to correct the errors on their forms.
Per the Supreme Court ruling, the EC was to extend the nomination period to 5pm, Tuesday November 8, 2016.
However, information gathered from sources within the PPP and a letter from the Commission indicates that there are more mistakes to be corrected.
According to Gary Nimako Marfo, one of the lawyers of Dr Nduom, the EC has identified 105 additional errors to the one that was found earlier on in their nomination forms. This means the party has 106 errors to correct before 5pm, Tuesday.
Below is the full letter from the EC to the PPP
Dear Sir: Re-Presidential Election Nomination
We refer to the Supreme Court ruling on Monday 7, 2016 in the case of the R vs High Court (Commercial Division) Accra Ex Parte Electoral Commission (Applicant) and Papa Kwesi Nduom (Applicant).
The Court in the said case, ordered that the Electoral Commission extend the nomination period of Monday 7 November 2016 to 17.00 hours GMT on Tuesday 8 November 2016.
The court further ordered that you be given a hearing within the extended period and that we afford you the opportunity to comply with regulation 9 (2) (b) of CI 94, in appropriate cases.
You would recall that by our letter to you on October 10, 2016, we informed you of two subscriptions that were not as required by law on pages 21 and 39 of your form.
Following the ruling of the Supreme Court, which effectively extended the nomination period to November 8, 2016, and following the hearing provided you today, we should be grateful if you would do the following.
Kindly take the requisite steps to procure the attendance of Mr. Richard Aseda (who is listed as a subscriber on pages 21 and 39 of your form) at the head office of the Commission, prior to the close of nomination, to confirm that he actually subscribed to your forms and the district in which he subscribed.
Further, please find attached a list of other concerns and discrepancies found on your nomination form within the extended nomination period.
These include signatures which do not tally across copies of your form. Please be advised that in line with the requirements of law;
i. You must have a minimum of two subscribers in every district of Ghana and that your subscribers are all validly registered voters;
ii. That your subscribers have duly endorsed your nomination papers as required by law.
iii. A subscriber cannot nominate more than one presidential candidate
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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What is wrong about the EC decision this time??? You have been given a second chance to correct all your mistakes and you still make noise. The Afari Gyan system is gone. Now we dealing with someone who wants to apply the rules to the latter If anybody want to come into Ghana politics , better be serious!!!!!!
ELECTORAL COMISSION WORKED OUT PLAN HAS BEGUN FAILING. THIS IS A CALCULATED PLAN BY EC AND NDC TO MAKE SURE THEY WIN FIRST ROUND. THEY HAVE PLANNED TO RIG MASSIVELY AND WIN. THEY KNOW IF THEY RIG AND WIN SUPREMME COURT CANNOT OVERTURN IT. THIS IS WHY THEY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW BECAUSE THEIR CALCULATED MISCHIEF IS FAILING NOW. MAHAMA SAID ELECTION WILL BE ONE TOUCH, A SENIOR JOUNALIST IN NDC CAMP SAID ELECTION WILL BE ONE TOUCH. ALL SHOW CLEARLY THE REASON WHY EC IS DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. NPP SHOULD WATCH CAREFULLY THE PRINTING OF BALLOT PAPERS, PINK SHEETS AND ALSO CONTROL THE POLLING STATIONS VERY WELL. NDC IS GOING TO GIVE CARS, HOUSES, MONEY TO INFLUENCE THE POLLING AGENTS TO SIGN DIFFERENT PINK SHEETS
Whatever you say ; it seems there is an unseen invisible hand manipulating this elections in favour of Jon Mahama ; Mrs Osei has been bought and already paid to deliver victory for Jon Mahama ; Tony Lithur the supervising lawyer for the EC is master planning the whole issue of frustrating Ghanaians or any opponent facing Jon Mahama ; to me the onus is for all these parties to come together and file suit at Court again TODAY !!!!!!!! because this a deliberate this is a delaying tactics; very soon the EC will start printing the ballots of the approved candidates and that will shut out these 12 parties ; the stakes are VERY HIGH ; did not the EC see all these mistakes in the first place ; how come suddenly these errors have jumped so high !!!!!!!!!; what the NDC should realise is that one day same will be done to them in opposition; YOU DO ME I DO YOU !!!!!!!
What is this Nigerian EC chair girl up to? Why are peace loving and true Ghanaians looking on while this arrogant Charlotte girl is trying to disturb our peace? We must all demand her immediate resignation from the EC. She is bent on rigging the elections for the incompetent John Mahama who appointed her. We are watching her actions with eagle eyes....
The agenda is becoming clearer and clearer. Yesterday after the ruling, a friend was jubilating over the victory for Dr. Nduom. I told him until Dr. Nduom is allowed to take part in the balloting, I will not heave a sigh of relief. See my prediction? I do not think Ghana deserves this. That one person disturbs its peace in this magnitude and put everyone in suspense. Civil Society Organizations and other professional bodies must rise up to kick out this woman from her position for our peace. Why are those whose interest she is serving so conspicuously quiet?
Has the EC a lawyer? I'm asking this because Agyariga's case and the ruling of same,should serve here as a precedence.The EC might be so much preconceived in her convictions to disqualify Mr Nduom, that they have totally lost their reasons.Please do bear with me Mr Nduom would win again.
Guys what are you waiting for? Your lawyers should be back at the Supreme Court by now with a class action against the EC.
NDUOM MUST BLAME HIMSELF. SO FOR ALL THIS WHILE AFARI GYAN TOLERATED YOUR LUKEWARM ATTITUDE TO THE FILING OF YOUR FORMS. CERTAINLY NDUOM CANNOT PRETEND ***barred word*** OF THE LAW. FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN CHARITABLE TO HIM. BUT FOR HOW LONG WILL THE LAW BECOME AN ***barred word*** FOR POLITICIAN ASPIRING TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF OUR DEAR LAND?
The smart thing to do with this new development is for Mr Ndoum to go to court today to prevent the EC from adding any new errors. The Supreme Court gave its ruling based on the earlier errors listed by the EC and fixed today 5pm as closing date.
What is the EC up to? I am worried at the turn of events following the supreme court ruling. Please the National Peace Council where are you?