The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has opened a petition to get not less than one million signatories to have the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) rescind its decision of disqualifying the party’s flagbearer from the 2016 polls. The petition, soliciting for the signatures, was opened over the weekend.

According to a source at the party’s head office, the decision to petition the EC was reached after “our sympathizers and supporters” expressed displeasure at the disqualification of Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom. Dr Nduom was among 14 presidential aspirants disqualified by the Commission to contest the December 7 presidential elections as a result of irregularities with regard to their nomination forms.

In the case of Dr Nduom, one of the subscribers to his nomination forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7. 2b of CI 94.

The subscriber, Richard Aseda, is said to have endorsed the forms with different signatures, as announced by Chair of the Commission, Charlotte Osei, on Monday, October 10.

The party was, consequently, reported to the police and Attorney General. But the Party says Ghanaians – both home and abroad – have touted Dr Nduom – a two-time presidential candidate – as the “right man for the job”.

Therefore, they called for the petition to get the EC to listen to them. After polling the one million signatures, the petition is expected to be sent to the Commission for a decision to reverse the disqualification of Dr Nduom.

Already, the party has sued the Commission over the issue with Former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo leading the counsel for the petitioners. Incidentally, the last petition opened by the party was stolen from its headoffice.