Speaker postpones decision on petition to declare four seats vacant

The Speaker of Parliament has delayed a ruling on a petition calling for the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, following a heated session on Tuesday.

The petition, filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, has sparked debate in the House, particularly over its reliance on Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution.

This article mandates that a Member of Parliament (MP) vacate their seat if they abandon the party under which they were elected or choose to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.

Iddrisu’s petition challenges the status of three Majority MPs and one MP from his own National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He argues that the MPs have either left their respective parties or no longer align with their original mandates, thus violating the constitutional provisions.

During the session, both the Majority and Minority factions presented their cases, with each side interpreting the constitutional clause differently.

The Majority MPs refuted the claims, insisting they remained loyal to their party principles.

Speaker Alban Bagbin, after hearing both sides, opted to defer his ruling to allow for more thorough consideration of the constitutional implications.

“This is a serious matter with far-reaching consequences,” Bagbin stated, noting the need to ensure that his decision would be fair and legally sound.

He assured the House that the matter would be revisited after further deliberation, with a ruling expected later in the week.