The Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by pressure group Democracy Hub seeking to prevent the Electoral Commission from recognising the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election.
The group had asked the court to restrain the Electoral Commission (EC) from accepting and acting on the nomination of Mr. Baba Jamal, the NDC’s candidate, over allegations that the party’s February 7 primary was tainted by vote buying.
In its suit, Democracy Hub named the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), and the Attorney-General’s Department as defendants, arguing that the alleged irregularities rendered the outcome of the primary invalid.
However, lawyers for the NDC raised a preliminary objection, contending that the action was defective and incompetent in law. They urged the court to strike it out without proceeding to a full hearing.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Agyenim-Boateng upheld the objection and set aside the originating processes, effectively bringing the case to an end. The court held that the application did not meet the required legal standards.
The legal action had centred on claims that Mr. Jamal engaged in vote buying during the party’s internal election. He has consistently rejected the allegations.
Following the controversy, a three-member committee established by the NDC investigated the claims and presented a report to the party’s leadership. The party subsequently upheld the results of the primary, citing constitutional provisions, legal considerations, and nomination timelines set by the EC.
With the court’s decision, the path appears clear for the EC to proceed with preparations for the Ayawaso East by-election, which has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
