The Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, has announced that he has filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to prevent any moves in Parliament to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
This action follows remarks made by former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who indicated his intention to petition the Speaker to declare the seats vacant. Iddrisu’s argument is based on the decision of these MPs to contest the upcoming December elections as independent candidates.
Citing Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, Iddrisu contends that MPs who abandon the political party on whose platform they were elected to Parliament are required to forfeit their seats. According to the constitutional provision, such MPs are no longer eligible to serve in Parliament once they choose to switch their political affiliation.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, ahead of the Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament, Afenyo Markin confirmed that he had instructed his lawyers to file the injunction. The goal, he said, is to block any attempt by Haruna Iddrisu to push for a declaration of the seats as vacant and to prevent the Speaker from acting on such a petition.
The legal application filed by the Majority Leader adds a new layer of complexity to the debate over whether MPs who choose to contest elections as independents should lose their seats before the end of their current term in Parliament.
Source: Clement Akoloh
