Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor at the University of Ghana has said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) must brace themselves for a keen contest in a possible parliamentary rerun at Assin North.
The Cape Coast high court on Wednesday restrained James Gyakye Quayson from holding himself as the NDC MP for the constituency for violating the electoral laws of the country.
The court presided over by Justice Kwasi Boakye also ordered for fresh parliamentary elections in the constituency after evidence was adduced in court that Quayson failed to renounce his Canadian citizenship prior to filing to contest as an MP.
Test of popularity
However, Prof Gyampo in a Facebook post said the rerun of the Assin North parliamentary election will be a test of government’s popularity.
“The NPP may not want this bye-election or re-run, as the guy who won the seat just about six months ago, may likely win again, even with some more sympathy votes. This may not be a good omen for the popularity of the party, whose government is yet to be fully formed. The celebration of the court ruling by some NPP functionaries, may therefore be described as fake, as a huge battle that tests the regime’s popularity awaits them,” Gyampo posted.
He added: “The NDC too may be paranoid about bye-election or re-run because, if the ruling party decides to descend the whole state machinery into that small constituency, things may change. Their disappointment and criticisms may therefore be understandable, as there is the possibility of the seat being snatched by the NPP in a do or die battle.
“So, regardless of how the NDC rants about the court ruling and how the NPP fakes a celebration of same ruling, they must both brace themselves to face “the mother of all parliamentary elections in Assin North.”
Below is the full post:
Fred Dzakpata
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