Court dismisses suit against NPP Presidential Primary 

An Accra Fast Track High Court has dismissed the injunction application filed against the October 18 Presidential Primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Court presided by Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh held that the suit was premature and that the applicants also failed to prove their capacity as members of the NPP or their rights that they said were being denied by the party.

The court aslo awarded GH₵5,000 in cost against the applicants. 

The applicants, Messrs Rexford Agyei Frimpong and Oppong Kyekyeku had applied to the court to restrain the NPP from holding the presidential primary because, according to them, notices served for the election fell short of the 6-month duration required by the party constitution.

The NPP opened nominations for the presidential primary on June 6, serving notice it intended to hold elections on October 18 to elect a presidential candidate.

Lawyers defending the party however argued that the 6-month constitutional provision was not sacrosanct and that the party’s National Council was clothed with powers to vary the date.

Dismissing the application, Justice Mustapha Logoh also held that the applicants, even if were proven members of the NPP, a voluntary organisation, should have exhausted the party’s grievance procedures before rushing to court, explaining that the NPP constitution not only made elaborate provision for dispute resolution but also enjoined members to abide by them.

Justice Logoh held that persons who subscribe to a code cannot be seen to be rushing to court for redress without giving the party opportunity enough to discharge its responsibilities.

Daily Graphic