ELECTION 2024 PPP Sues EC For Unlawful Disqualification Of Presidential Candidate

The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has sued the Electoral Commission (EC) following the disqualification of the party’s flagbearer, Kofi Siaw Asamoah, from the 2024 presidential race.

The PPP's flagbearer, together with 10 other presidential aspirants, were disqualified from contesting in the December 7, 2024, elections by the EC in a letter explaining that the disqualification was due to the aspirants’ failure to correct errors on his nomination forms.

But National Chairman of the PPP, Nana Ofori Owusu, considers the EC's action as unfair, and held that the electoral body's decision to reject their candidate’s nomination forms was both arbitrary and unlawful.

He explained that their Presidential aspirant submitted his forms on September 13 as permitted by the EC.

According to PPP’s National Chairman, the EC after accepting the filing fee of Ghc 100,000, on September 13. 2024, identified some corrections on the same day, thereby, directing the PPP to make all corrections and resubmit the forms on September 15.

The PPP expressed shock over the announcement made on the 20th of September by the EC announcing that some candidates have been disqualified, five clear days after the expiration of the date of resubmission, which the party had duly honoured.

It is as a result of this that the PPP has sought legal redress for possible reinstatement.

An excerpt of the suit, dated 24th September 2024, reads, “That the party also became aware the same day, 20th September 2024, that the Respondent, through WhatsApp messages had informed other candidates whose nominations, according to it, were accepted of the scheduled balloting exercise for the Presidential Candidate at 4:00 PM same day without any such notice to the Applicant or the party (PPP).”

PPP argues, “It is not the intention of the law to simply disqualify a nominee without affording the said nominee ample chance to make amendment or alterations, if any.”.Kobina Darlington/