Speaker Bagbin: Supreme Court Ruling Confirms Nullified Results Cannot Produce MPs
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has clarified that parliamentary candidates whose results were nullified by the Supreme Court on Friday, December 27, 2024, are not eligible to be sworn in as Members of Parliament.
The Supreme Court’s ruling invalidated the re-collated results for the Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, and Techiman South constituencies, citing irregularities in the re-collation process conducted by the Electoral Commission (EC).
This judgment followed a legal challenge by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which argued that the December 20 High Court directive for re-collation exceeded the court’s jurisdiction and violated electoral procedures.
Speaker’s Position
Speaking in Accra on Saturday, Bagbin asserted that the Supreme Court’s decision aligns with his earlier stance on the issue. He emphasized that candidates must meet all legal requirements before being sworn into office.
“The decision of the Supreme Court just followed the position I took before they even delivered their decision. To become a member of parliament, you have to be elected by the voter, and you have to be declared by the Electoral Commission. But you have to be sworn in by the Speaker. Until you are sworn in by the Speaker, you remain MP-elect,” Bagbin stated.
He further argued that the re-collated results and subsequent declarations were “completely null and void” and unknown to the law.
Legal Implications
The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional and procedural requirements in electoral processes. With the swearing-in of the 9th Parliament set for January 7, 2025, this decision leaves the affected constituencies without parliamentary representation until disputes are resolved.
The Electoral Commission is expected to take further steps to address the irregularities and ensure credible outcomes for the outstanding constituencies. Meanwhile, the NDC has hailed the ruling as a victory for transparency and accountability in Ghana’s electoral process.
As the clock ticks toward the inauguration of the new Parliament, political stakeholders are urging calm and adherence to legal procedures to resolve the disputes in the affected constituencies.
