Politics of Friday, 15 October 2004

Source: GNA

Court rules in favour of Teresa Tagoe in NPP Primary dispute

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - An Accra High Court on Friday dismissed an application that sought to annul the Ablekuma South Constituency Primary held to elect Madam Theresa Tagoe as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate.

The Court in dismissing the application said it was satisfied that it was the Constituency Executive of the Party that should compile the list of members, who were to vote during the primaries.

The Court described the list of voters during the primaries, as authentic, saying Madam Tagoe's election was proper.

The Party members, who had gathered at the Court premises to show their solidarity with Madam Tagoe went into jubilation after the pronouncement.

Mr Alex Bruce-Appiah, the Plaintiff, has, however, indicated that he would appeal against the decision of the High Court. Mr Bruce-Appiah of Dansoman, a member of the party, prayed the Court to order a rerun of the primary, which was held on July 25. Nii Akwei Bruce-Thompson, Counsel for Mr Bruce-Appiah, said the purported results of the primary should be cancelled since a wrong delegates' list was used.

He stated that 70 Polling Station Chairmen, who had the right to vote in the election, were disenfranchised and there was no representative from the Electoral Commission.

Nii Bruce-Thompson, praying for an order of the court restraining the NPP and Madam Tagoe, their assigns, allies among others from registering Madam Tagoe as the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South constituency during this year's elections.

Counsel for the defendants said the existing Executive was the only organ of the party in the constituency at the time of the delegates' conference that had the power to appoint, maintain or remove a polling station chairperson.

Counsel maintained that the list used during the primaries was authentic.