The disqualified presidential aspirant of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew, has filed an application at the Supreme Court praying the apex court to order the Electoral Commission (EC) to postpone the December 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He also wants the court to direct the EC to allow him to effect the necessary correction on his nomination forms to enable him to contest the polls.
According to Mr Ward-Brew, the postponement would give disqualified presidential aspirants, including him, ample time to campaign.
He is accordingly praying the Supreme Court to extend the period of time for the submission of nomination forms.
According to him, he was out of the jurisdiction when the Supreme Court, on November 7, 2017 extended the nomination period for disqualified aspirants, leading to the acceptance of four more presidential aspirants by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Currently, the EC has given the nod to seven presidential candidates to contest the election. Balloting has ended and the political parties and their presidential and parliamentary candidates, as well as an independent presidential candidate, are currently campaigning with their positions on the ballot paper.
But Mr Ward-Brew wants the Supreme Court to hear him and allow him to partake in the general election, with the explanation that he was in Nigeria when the apex court extended the nomination period.
Hearing of his application has been fixed for Wednesday, November 23, 2016.
Affidavit in support
An affidavit in support deposed to by Mr Ward-Brew, a legal practitioner, said his response to the EC over his disqualification was not replied to.
“The Electoral Commission should have used courier services to inform the affected aspirants concerning the Supreme Court order of November 7, 2016 to enable them to respond because that was their obligation instead of replying on radio announcements, expecting the affected candidates to comply and meet the limited time set out by the Supreme Court not taking into consideration distance and traffic issues in the city.
“This is an act of injustice on the candidates affected,” the affidavit in support indicated.
It said it appeared the EC used “self-imposed” delays and lack of expeditiousness as an excuse to put pressure on everybody so that they would be able to get away with their acts of injustice and mistakes to hold everybody to ransom.
It said the EC, being in charge of the electoral calendar, could have given six months or even more but waited until two months to elections to enable them to deny fairness to affected Ghanaians.
Mr Ward-Brew, accordingly, wants the court to grant his prayer.
Background
The Supreme Court, on November 7, 2016, directed the EC to give a fair hearing to all disqualified presidential aspirants.
It directed the EC to allow all the presidential aspirants who were able to submit their nomination papers by close of the nomination day of September 30, 2016 and were disqualified without a hearing to do so within the extended period.
The court, in its judgement, also extended the nomination period from Monday, November 7 to the close of working day, Tuesday, November 8.
Source: Daily Graphic
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
It was absolutely wrong for the supreme court to reverse the decision of the EC. All these problems are coming about as a result of the decision of the SC. The EC did a very excellent job removing all those who couldn't complete the forms.If it were any other society the court would have supported the EC in this regard simply because it is the duty of the political parties employing experts to do that job (filling of the forms) for them.
So TN Ward Brew traveled on his own and want Ghana to be held at ransom to fulfill his whims and caprice. Was is the EC who told him to travel? Did he inform the EC of his traveling plans? Where were his party executives when the opportunity came for them to correct their nomination forms? I am shocked that old folk like him is refusing to think. And this wants to be president? Tweeeaaa
Waaa Look at this. Even a first semester law student will not grant the application. It is frivilously and maliciously clothe with some dubious intent. By the way, who told you to travel out of the jurisdiction when you have some serious campaigning to do.
GtfohwtBS. So mahama doesn't have grey hair? Really?
Please don't waste our time
WHO SAYS GREY HAIRED MEN ARE A REPOSITORY OF WISDOM??? TO THINK THAT YOU WARD BREW ADDS ANYTHING TO OUR BODY POLITICS IS TO RECIPROCATE THE NDC WITH YOUR SINGLE VOTE. AND ALL YOUR GREYING WILL NOT BE FOR NOTHING.