Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has affirmed that National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs will insist on taking the Majority position in Parliament when it reconvenes on Tuesday, October 22, unless directed otherwise by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
The MP stated that the NDC will follow the Speaker’s rulings, rather than the Supreme Court’s, which contradicts Bagbin’s decision to declare four seats vacant.
“We will act according to Bagbin’s communique and until he communicates otherwise, we will go by his current decision and so if he comes and communicates to us what the court has ruled, we will act because we listen to the Speaker and not to the court,” he said.
He also noted that the Supreme Court should not interfere with the functioning of Parliament.
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“We are ignoring the Supreme Court because it is not supposed to interfere in our work and the constitution is clear on that so it is surprising that the Supreme Court which is the apex of the law will go ahead and rule when it should have stayed off.”
Mahama Ayariga‘s stance on this developemtn stems from the declaration of four parliamentary seats: Amenfi Central, Fomena, Suhum, and Agona West vacant on Thursday, October 17, by the Speaker.
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The Speaker’s ruling followed a motion filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, citing constitutional provisions that require MPs who change political parties or contest as independent candidates to relinquish their seats.
However, the Supreme Court intervened the following day, on Thursday, October 18, by overturning the Speaker’s ruling and granting a stay of execution. This decision came in response to a request by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
“This is a matter that should not have been entertained by the Supreme Court. This was a matter that was supposed to even go to the High Court. What is so urgent that the Supreme Court had to convene and decide on the matter in less than 24 hours?
“These are matters that the Supreme Court should not be interfering in and the Supreme Court must stay off these matters. To come in and say these things makes one think the Supreme Court is an extension of the NPP. These are pure matters that the Supreme Court should not be involved in.”
