The Supreme Court has ordered the Electoral Commission(EC) of Ghana to extend close of nomination period from today Monday, November 07, 2016 to tomorrow Tuesday, November 08, 2016.
The ruling read by Justice Sophia Adinyira, the presiding judge is to enable all the disqualified candidates to correct errors on their nomination forms.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, threw out the EC's suit challenging an High court ruling asking them to allow the PPP's presidential candidate Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom to correct his nomination form errors.
A seven-member panel in the Monday ruling asked the commission to extend the nomination period to November 8, 2016 to give room for the other candidates to correct their mistakes in order to contest in the December polls.
The court also ordered the discontinuation of the various court cases regarding the disqualification of other presidential aspirants.
The EC disqualified several presidential candidates from the December polls for various errors detected in their nomination forms.
Supreme Court's Directive:
The Supreme Court mindful of the importance that elections should be concluded as early as possible according to time schedule and the limited time available for the Applicant to complete processes prior to the printing of presidential ballot papers and collation sheets etc, and in order to ensure prevalence of justice equity and fairness in the election process we thereby proceed to give the following directives while taking judicial notice of the plethora of cases pending in various High Courts with similar claims and cause of action:
1. The EC is to extend the nomination period from today Monday 7 November 2016 to the close of working day of Tuesday 8 November 2016.
2. Invite all the disqualified presidential candidates who were able to submit their nomination papers by the close of the nomination day of 30 October 2016.
3. To give the candidates a hearing within the extended period.
4. In appropriate cases, to afford candidates, the opportunity to comply with regulation 9 (2) (b)
5. The EC to declare the names of candidates so nominated per regulations 7, 8, and 9 of CI. 94; by the close of working day of Wednesday 9 November 2016.
6. Balloting of positions of candidates to take place the next day by the close of working day of Thursday 10 November.
7. As a result of the above directives, we find it necessary to make a consequential order to stay all court proceedings against the Applicant in relation to disqualification of pending in the High Court, to enable the EC to carry out its mandate;
8. We accordingly stay all proceedings in the High Court as aforesaid.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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Common sense ruling. I hope Ghanaians will put pressure on the Nigerian girl EC chair to resign... She is too childish for the EC chair position.
Man pass Man
All this is bcos charlotte got infected with mahama incompetence virus after he fokkkked her hard in order to give her this post fir which she has no merit
well done to the SC judges. Very good but I think the days for the correction is too short. However it is a good omen for Democracy. Charlotte Osei must be checked closely.
big shaaaaame to EC and their partner NDC.God will punish them both a big change is defo coming.Nana 2017
Very sensible ruling, I think.
Chai !!! power pass power!
OYIWA. THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WITH BOLDNESS WHO CAN DO THE RIGHT THING. NOW THIS HEADMISTRESS CHARLOTTE OSEI SHOULD NOTE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT SHE CANNOT TAKE APPLY THE LAW IN HER OWN TERMS. ALL HER POSTURE SHOWS SHE WANTS TO FAVOUR SOMEBODY AND TOLD YOU GUYS HER DISQUALIFYING OTHERS WAS TO MAKE SURE THERES NO ENOUGH PEOPLE PARTICIPATING HENCE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF AGENTS THAT NEEDS TO BE THERE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS. THIS HELPS ONE PARTY WITH THE RIGGING MACHINE TO GO ON RIGGING . NOW WITH MORE PRESENCE AND EYES THEIR AGENDA WILL NOT BE EXECUTED EASILY. NOW FELLOW GHANAIANS OUR ATTENTION MUST TURN TO WHO IS PRINTING THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT PAPERS. THAT AERO VOTE COMPANY IS A SUSPECT INFILTRATED BY SO CALLED NATIONAL SECURITY PEOPLE. LETS TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THEM
Jo should pardon this also
Jdm should overrule this...Ghana ay3 pinsoo😜😎🤓