NPP threatens to boycott parliament until Supreme Court rules on vacant seats

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) have declared their intention to boycott parliamentary proceedings until the Supreme Court issues a ruling on recently declared vacant seats.

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced this decision during an interview on Thursday, highlighting the party’s commitment to the rule of law amid rising tensions in the political landscape.

The boycott stems from Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s controversial ruling, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant, three belonging to the NPP and one to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This ruling follows a motion filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, and questioning the status of MPs who switched party affiliations ahead of the upcoming December 7 elections.

As the situation unfolds, the NPP is determined to respect the judicial process, emphasizing their preference for legal clarity over chaos.

Afenyo-Markin reiterated the NPP’s position, stating that they have informed the Speaker that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court, and they will await its interpretation before proceeding further.

“We prefer to be on the side of the law rather than engage in confusion,” he stated.

The Speaker’s ruling has left the NPP with 135 seats compared to the NDC’s slender lead of 136 seats, intensifying the stakes as both parties navigate this complex political terrain.