NPP will file motion soon- Gloria Akuffo

Lead counsel for the NPP Presidential candidate, Gloria Akuffo says the party will file the motion on their objection to the composition of the panel of judges sitting on the case.

“The application for the motion will be filed any time soon,” she said.

Speaking to Citi News after court on Thursday, madam Akuffo said “we came to court for the first time on the matter challenging the election of the president. We took a preliminary objection in respect of the composition of the Supreme Court panel.”

She explained that “the nature of the objection is such that we thought that it will be more prudent and expedient to raise it in camera in the presence of the opposing council having done so the court took the position that a formal application ought to be brought for the consideration of the Supreme Court. So we will come back with that. I will not disclose the nature of it until the application is ready and has been filed because we have been sensitive there has been talk about the breaking down of this country that is not our intention indeed it is for the purpose of strengthening our democracy that is why we thought we should adopt the procedure that is to say to be heard in camera it is for the stability of this country, it is to maintain the integrity and respect of the judiciary. But if the court says so they are the final arbiters. If they think that having disclosed the nature of our objection we should still bring it formally we will respect the court’s decision.”

Meanwhile a member of the president’s legal team, Dominic Ayine says the NPP’S request for an in-camera hearing on the objection to the panel was most unfortunate. He says the NPP lawyers only wasted everybody’s time in court.

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned hearing on the NDC’s application to join the respondents in the NPP’s petition before the court.

The NPP is challenging the validity of the results of the 2012 presidential elections claiming it was rigged in favor of the NDC.

The petition is against President Mahama, the Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the EC, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan.

The petitioners are the presidential candidate, Nana Akufo Addo, the national chairman of the NPP, Jake Obetsibi Lamptey and the party’s running mate for the 2012 elections, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.


The NDC has said it is seeking to join the respondents because President Mahama whose election is being contested won the presidential elections on the party’s ticket.
 
Source: Citifmonline