The Ejisu constituency in the Ashanti region by-election scheduled for April 30, 2024 is in limbo as the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has applied for an interlocutory injunction to halt the Electoral Commission conducting the election.
According to the party they have officially informed the Electoral Commission that they are not interested and will not contest in the up-coming bye-election in the Ejisu constituency but they have discovered that a letter signed by the former Chairperson and Leader of the party, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa has introduce one Esther Osei to represent CPP for the by-election.
The party in the interlocutory injunction said the aspirant does not represent the party “…per Article 53 (d) of the CPP’s Constitution, it is the duty of the Constituency Branch Party Conference to elect a Parliamentary candidate for the Constituency for the approval of the Central Committee. Thus, the power to get a Parliamentary candidate for the Party lies with the Party’s Constituency members at a Constituency Conference held for that purpose and this has not been done to elect anybody,” the suit initiated by Emmanuel Gallo, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the CPP said.
“Motion of Notice by Counsel for and on behalf of ihc Plaintiff/Applicant herein praying for an order of Interlocutory Injunction to restrain the Defendant/Respondent, its agents or assigns from conducting the Ejisu Constituency by-election on or before 30’*’ April 2024 or any dale thereafter with one Esther Osci on the ballot, purporting to contest on the ticket or on behalf of the Convention Peoples* Party (CPP) until the instant case is finally determined on merits.” They added.
“That the CPP is currently putting together its reorganisation agenda towards the main 7 December 2024 national elections, and the Regional Executive Committee, as the officers on the ground in the region, who know first hand, the political strength of the Party in the region, has resolved to concentrate on the said reorganisation agenda to prepare the Parly properly for the main 7‘’’ December national elections that. If the Party is to do anything regarding the said by-election in the Ejisu Constituency, it is the responsibility of his Regional Executive Committee chaired by Plaintiff, to submit to the Party Headquarters and the Central Committee, any such activity for onward consideration and approval.”
“That due to the Party’s reorganisation agenda and certain pending internal matters, Plaintiffs Regional Executive Committee has not sent any communique regarding the participation in the said by-election to the Central Committee, the Party’s highest administrative body for consideration. In sum. the CPP as a political paity has not taken any decision at its Central Committee to contest the said Ejisu Constituency by-election.”
“That this being the situation regarding the CPP currently, and as no such decision to participate in the said by-election in the Ejisu Constituency has been taken at the highest level of the Party’s administration, the only official thing to do is for the Regional Executive Committee to inform the Defendant’s Ashanti Region Directorate that the Party would not be participating in the said by-election, which was done by a letter dated 18^*’ April 2024 and addressed to the Defendant’s Ashanti Region Director. The said letter is herein attached as Exhibit “SY”.”
“That after Exhibit “SY” was submitted to Defendant’s Office in Kumasi, one Estlier Osei showed up at the Defendant’s Office and has been registered by Defendant to contest the said by-election on the ticket of the CPP as its candidate. And that, the said Esther Osei was introduced by a letter dated 18″’ April 2024 to the Defendant from the former chair and leader of the CPP. Nana Akosua Frimpomaa, who together with 8 other National Executives, at the Party’s National Executive Council meeting on 5”’ December 2023, were removed from office. The said letter is herein attached as Exhibit “SY 1”.”
“That 1 am informed by Counsel and verily believe the same to be true that per Article 53 (d) of the CPP’s Constitution, it is the duty of the Constituency Branch Party Conference to elect a Parliamentary candidate for the Constituency for the approval of the Central Committee. Thus, the power to get a Parliamentary candidate for the Party lies with the Party’s Constituency members at a Constituency Conference held for that purpose and this has not been done to elect anybody.”
“That 1 am informed by Counsel and verily believe same to be true that per Article 71 (5) of the CPP’s Constitution- the Central Committee shall consider and approve the names of candidates submitted for election to Parliament, and where it rejects a candidate, it shall refer the matter to the particular Constituency to elect a new candidate. Significantly, the Ejisu Constituency has not elected and submitted anybody for consideration and approval by the Central Committee, and that no Central Committee meeting has been held for this purpose, a process which is very critical to determine the calibre and capacity’ of the Party’s Parliamentary candidate, for such election.”
‘That 1 am informed by Counsel and verily believe the same to be true that per Article 60 (d) of the CPP’s Constitution, the Regional Executive Committee shall make proposals for, and oversee all Party developmental activities in the region. In this regard, the Regional Executive Committee has not made any such proposal concerning the said Esther Osei for consideration and approval as the Party’s Parliamentary candidate, that is. even if the Part>’‘s Ejisu Constituency has not elected at a conference a candidate for the Central Committee’s consideration and approval. However, on the contrar>% Exhibit “SY” presents the Regional Executives’ position on the matter concerning the region.”
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
