NDC polls: Why pull out when Duffuor injunction not heard yet? Jean Mensa a walking contradiction – Lawyer

An Accra-based lawyer, Mr Twum Barimah, has berated the decision by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, to pull out of the main opposition National Democratic Congress’ Saturday, 13 May 2023, presidential and parliamentary primaries.

According to him, the interlocutory injunction being sought by flag bearer aspirant Kwabena Duffour has not yet been granted by a court of competent jurisdiction and, thus, found Mrs Mensa announcement of the EC’s pull-out decision premature.

He said the reliefs being sought by Dr Duffour can only be granted by a judge.

“The court has set Monday, 15 May 2023, to hear the application, so, what is the EC’s rush in saying they’re pulling out their supervision roles in the NDC’s primaries because an injunction has been filed?”Mr Barimah asked.

”So, the EC chair’s decision that they are pulling out because an injunction has been filed and not granted is problematic,” he emphasised.

“This is an interlocutory injunction and not an ex-parte injunction,” he explained.

The EC boss should have known better, Mr Twum Barimah noted, emphasising that an interlocutory injunction needed to be granted by a court.

”A judge needs to hear the case before granting the application,” he stressed.

Mr Barimah expressed his anger on the matter while speaking on Accra100.5 FM’s evening news programme on Thursday, 11 May 2023.

According to him, the EC boss is a walking contradiction.

He cited an instance in 2020 when the EC was registering senior high school students on campus and the NDC went to court with an application against it but the election management body still went ahead with it despite the matter pending in court.