An Accra High Court has dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) challenging its jurisdiction to hear a mandamus application filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NPP seeks to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to re-collate parliamentary election results in four disputed constituencies: Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South.
The NDC contended that the NPP’s application was essentially an election petition disguised as a mandamus request, arguing that once results have been declared, a mandamus order is inapplicable.
However, the presiding judge disagreed, stating that the court’s jurisdiction had been properly invoked for judicial review to ensure the EC acts in accordance with the law.
This ruling allows the court to proceed with hearing the substantive mandamus application.
The NPP aims to have the EC re-collate results in the specified constituencies, citing alleged irregularities in the initial collation process.
The NDC maintains that the results have already been declared, rendering re-collation unnecessary.
Source: myjoyonline.com
