Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has filed an injunction at the Supreme Court in a bid to safeguard his position, following the Minority’s attempt to declare the seats of several independent candidates vacant. This move comes after former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu announced plans to invoke Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which mandates that an MP’s seat be declared vacant if they leave the party under which they were elected or remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.
Haruna Iddrisu has already submitted a formal request to the Speaker of Parliament, seeking the removal of four MPs—three from the Majority and one from the NDC. Should the motion succeed, the balance of power in Parliament could shift, with the NDC gaining a Majority. The party currently holds 137 seats, while the Majority stands at 138.
Afenyo-Markin’s move aims to prevent a repeat of the 2020 incident when then-NPP MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah’s seat was declared vacant under similar circumstances. He argues that the matter should be resolved by the Supreme Court to avoid any precedent that could threaten the stability of his position as Majority Leader.
Constitutional lawyer Justice Abdulai, however, has pointed out that the constitutional provision for vacating MPs’ seats is clear-cut, suggesting limited room for legal contention. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the composition and leadership of Parliament.
By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh