Alexander Afenyo-Markin Files Supreme Court Injunction Against Minority’s Move to Void Independent MP Seats

Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has announced that he has filed an injunction application with the Supreme Court in reaction to the Minority’s efforts to declare independent candidates’ seats void.

This comes after former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu announced that his side of the House intended to use Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution to remove three Majority MPs and one NDC MP.

The rule in question requires an MP to renounce their seat if they leave the party for which they were elected or attempt to continue in Parliament as an independent candidate.

Haruna Iddrisu claims he has already written to the Speaker to declare the four parliamentary seats vacant.

If the motion passes, the NDC, which presently has 137 MPs, will become the majority party, dramatically changing the balance of power in the House.

READ ALSO: Speaker of Parliament Postpones Decision on Petition to Vacate Seats of Four MPs

Parliament now consists of 138 Majority MPs and 137 Minority MPs. Alexander Afenyo-Markin says he does not want to follow the precedent set in 2020, when then-NPP MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah’s seat was declared vacant.

He feels the Supreme Court should be allowed to decide this case

According to Justice Abdulai, a constitutional lawyer, the four Members of Parliament (MPs) who risk losing their seats after declaring their desire to run as independent candidates have little legal leeway.
According to him, the constitutional provision for declaring their seats empty is straightforward and allows little opportunity for ambiguity.

Source: xtrememediaonline.com