Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ayikoi Otoo has voiced dissatisfaction with the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) legal team for excluding National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidates in their application for a mandamus order.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile program on Saturday, December 28, 2024, Mr. Otoo criticised the legal team for disregarding the rights of key stakeholders in the ongoing electoral dispute.
“I have a problem with the NPP lawyers who went to court because we all know there are interested parties in this matter,” he said. “Usually, when you have a case like this, you must include the interested parties. So, clearly, why do you leave them out?”
His remarks come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, December 27, which nullified the results of the recollation of votes in the Tema Central, Ablekuma North, Techiman South, and Okaikwei Central constituencies.
The ruling emphasised that the NDC parliamentary candidates’ right to a fair hearing had been violated during proceedings at the High Court.
Additionally, the Supreme Court rejected the Electoral Commission’s recollation, which had been used to declare results in the disputed constituencies.
However, the court clarified that its ruling did not affect the results for the Ahafo Ano North and Nsawam Adoagyiri constituencies.
The apex court directed that the application for a mandamus order remain active but be reassigned to a new High Court judge for a hearing on Tuesday, December 31.
Mr. Otoo underscored the importance of inclusivity in legal processes, warning that overlooking key stakeholders could complicate electoral dispute resolutions and erode public trust in the judiciary.
“This kind of omission only makes matters worse and creates unnecessary tension,” he concluded.
