Inusah Fuseini, a lawyer and former NDC MP for Tamale Central, says public anger over alleged vote-buying in the Ayawaso East primary cannot replace a legal basis, even when wrongdoing is clear.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Mr Fusseini, who chaired the NDC’s Ayawaso East Investigative Committee, said the party’s promise to “do things differently” must also apply internally.
“The electorate gave NDC the power to govern this country on the promise that we will do things differently,” he said. “That difference… should extend to our internal operations.”
He warned that if the party mishandles the Ayawaso East matter, it could damage public confidence.
Mr Fuseini said the committee reached what he described as a firm finding of wrongdoing.
“We came to the conclusion, an unalloyed and firm conclusion that there was widespread illegal activity,” he said. “I mean, the voter buying and inducement.”
He added that the conduct was not isolated. “Vote buying and inducement… was not limited to one candidate,” he said.
The committee, he disclosed, recommended that the party could annul the results. But he said they also warned about major legal and practical hurdles.
“Yes, but we… drew the party’s attention to the legal and practical hurdles they will have to overcome,” he said.
He noted that the primary was conducted under the Electoral Commission’s supervision.
“The elections were conducted and supervised by the Electoral Commission,” he said. “The results were certified by the Electoral Commission as being credible in a fair and fair manner.”
That, he argued, creates a central legal problem.
“The jurisprudential issue here is… can a Political Party overturn the verdict of the electoral commission when they did not conduct the election?” he asked.
He acknowledged the frustration among party supporters.
“I understand people’s opinion and the clamour for annulment,” he said. “People have a feeling… but the question is whether it will have a legal basis to stand up.”
He said what happened amounted to “acts of impunity” and claimed it violated several laws and party principles.
“They violated the express provisions of our laws,” he said, citing the Political Parties Act, the Representation of the People’s Act, CI 127, the Criminal Code, and the Constitution. He also said it violated the NDC’s code of ethics and values.
But he questioned whether the party can respond by taking steps that may also be unlawful.
“Do you deal with impunity by acting with impunity?” he asked. “Do you deal with a wrong by acting wrongly?”
He also warned against undermining the Electoral Commission.
“Governance-wise, you will be destroying the sanctity and integrity of the electoral commission if you do that,” he said.
Inusah Fuseini said even the NDC constitution offers limited guidance, pointing to Article 52 as the “nearest” provision.
He added that time constraints were another major issue, since “today is the final day to present a candidate” on the EC calendar.
Still, he said the committee put the option of annulment on the table, while stressing the hurdles the party must confront.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com