As some of the disqualified presidential candidates line up to effect corrections to allow them to contest the December 7 election, the United Progressive Party (UPP) is still in a standoff with its flagbearer, Akwasi Addai Odike.
Mr. Addai Odike’s membership is being challenged as party executive Stephen Kwaku Saahene has filed a suit to prevent him from filling nomination forms to contest on the party’s ticket as a presidential candidate.
Last October when the Electoral Commissioner announced the disqualification of some 12 presidential candidates for various errors on their nomination forms, she excluded UPP’s candidate because of the pending court case against him.
“According to the National Executive Committee, they dismissed Mr Odike from the party as a member and therefore have sued him in court for that declaration that he cease to be a member of the party and cannot hold himself out as the flagbearer of the UPP.
“The EC is the second defendant and only yesterday we were in court and the case was adjourned to December 5. We have been told that the Supreme Court has extended the nomination of the close of business Tuesday so we have to prompt the EC,” John Kumah lawyer for Mr Kwaku Saahene told Joy News.
He added that already, the UPP has placed an injunction restraining the EC from considering him as the UPP’s presidential candidate and the Commission would be in contempt of court if they should disregard the court order.
In a letter to the Electoral Commission (EC) Tuesday, lawyers of the Party cautioned the Commission about the pending court case in their dealings with Mr Addai Odike.
According to the letter signed by Reginald Nii Bi Ayibonte Tuesday, it read “we have the instruction of our clients to bring to your notice that the suit instituted on the 28/9/2016 challenging the Membership and capacity of Mr. Akwasi Addai Odike as flagbearer for the United Progressive Party is currently pending before the court for a determination.”
“We have instructions of our client to bring to your notice the pendency of this action in court to prevent your office from any dealings with the said Akwasi Addai Odike until the final determination of the said suit. Please be accordingly advised,” the letter cautioned.
Further, the plaintiffs want the court to order a “perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant his agents, assigns, privies, workmen and however described from carrying himself as the flagbearer of the UPP. An order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from issuing, accepting and registering the 1st defendant to contest the 2016 presidential elections as the flagbearer of the United Progressive Party.”
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