A New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, Gideon Opoku, has taken legal action against party officials in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, accusing them of failing to follow the party’s electoral rules ahead of upcoming internal elections.
Gideon Opoku filed a lawsuit at the High Court in Accra on June 17. He brought the case on his own behalf and on behalf of other party members and aspiring candidates who he believes have been affected by the alleged breaches.
The suit names the Constituency Chairman, the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency Executive Committee, and the Greater Accra Regional Steering Committee of the NPP as defendants.
In his court filing, Opoku claims the party officials failed to make available the validated Polling Station Executive Album and the Electoral College for members to verify before the Electoral Area Executive elections.
According to him, the NPP’s Internal Election Guidelines required party officials to complete data entry and validation of the album between May 17 and May 21.
The guidelines also directed the constituency executives and the regional steering committee to verify the information before any election process moved forward.
Opoku further argues that the constituency did not conduct Polling Station Elections across all polling stations. He also maintains that no lawful process took place to acclaim or swear in polling station executives.
“Unless restrained by this Honourable Court, the Defendants intend to proceed with the Electoral Area Elections and thereafter rely on the outcome thereof for subsequent Constituency Elections,” the writ states.
The plaintiff wants the court to declare that the failure to publish the album and Electoral College was unfair, unlawful, and contrary to the party’s established procedures.
He is also asking the court to order the defendants to publish the validated records, explain the basis for including or excluding names, and halt all Electoral Area Executive elections until they fully comply with the party’s guidelines.
The court has directed the defendants to respond within eight days after receiving the suit. If they fail to do so, the court may proceed with the case and deliver judgment in their absence.
