Bagbin, Spio to Sue NDC Over GH¢420k Killer Filing Fees

Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin may be heading to court over what he describes as a breach of the National Democratic Congress’ constitution.

He insists that party’s constitution is clear in the guidelines for the flagbearership race which has to be done in consultation with the Council of elders.

He was emphatic that he will not pick the party’s presidential nomination forms despite yesterday’s deadline.

The NDC last Thursday pegged the price of nomination forms at GH¢20,000 while candidates are required to pay another GH¢400,000 as filing fee.

But two minutes before deadline, One David Jawara Banye, a constituent at the constituency of Member of Parliament for Nadwokli Kaleo at 4:58pm yesterday picked a form for Mr. Bagbin although Mr. Bagbin insists, he has not sanction it.

He explains that although, he knows the said David, he has not given his blessing for him to pick the nomination forms on his behalf especially when he had raised concerns over the GH¢420,000.

In the view of Mr. Bagbin, he would get to the end of the matter even if he has to sue.

To Sue?

His reasons are that picking the forms will mean condoning illegality since the newly elected national executives of the NDC sidestepped the party’s Council of Elders in deciding the guidelines for the flagbearer contest.

“We believe that the process that they have put in place is offending a number of our values, principles and even the provisions of our constitution…and so we have put that across and we are awaiting the response of the Council of elders,” told Starr FM yesterday.

There’s a legal issue there, he noted adding that “A legal issue that we believe has rendered all the process null and void.

“We know that. And so, if you don’t do that and you proceed to do what you know is unlawful it means that all that process is null and void.

“And that’s the difficulty in going to pick the forms because we ourselves will be participating in an unlawful process. That’s the main reason why I am not picking the forms,” he added.

Bagbin also warned the NDC will be doomed should the national executives go ahead and implement the deadline for the picking of the forms without addressing the concerns raised in their petition.

“It is not just my candidature that’s at risk, the whole party, the success of the whole party is at risk if they decide to treat with contempt the issue that we have raised.

“They are just taking it lightly and they think that it’s one of a show of power. I can tell you that the health and future of the whole party will be at risk if they think that they can be pushed and ruled by the mob.

“They should go on and do that and see. We are all in Ghana. They should see what will happen in future,” he said.

Spio Angry

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, another aspirant has also given the hint of going to court over the issue.

“No they won’t close the [process]. They can’t do it. I am telling you the thing is illegal. The process is unconstitutional,” Mr Spio-Garbrah he said on Multi TV’s PM Express, Tuesday.

“Did they consult the Council of Elders? That is all you have to ask them. Just asked them: ‘I read your constitution that you must consult your Council of Elders, did you consult them?’ Let’s wait and see,” he said.

It is however, unclear why the other flagbearer-aspirants failed to pick their nominations.

The aspirants have variously raised concerns about the GH¢420,000 which they said was too high.

As at close of picking of nomination forms yesterday, five persons- Stephen Atubiga, former president John Dramani Mahama, former UPSA Rector, Professor Joshua Alabai and Sylvester Mensah, a former Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NIA) and Mr. Bagbin had picked their nomination forms for the NDC ‘Top Job’.

8 Petition

Incensed by the ‘killer fees’, eight of the 12 aspiring flagbearers petitioned the National Council of Elders of the party, under the chairmanship of the Founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings, to intervene to prevent irreparable harm to the party.

Although, it appears not much has been achieved supporters of the four aspirants thronged the NDC headquarters to pick the nomination forms after the hue and cry.

Some grassroots supporters of the NDC on Monday, queued at the former president’s Mahama’s residence at the Cantonments in Accra to contribute their widow’s mite towards the former president’s GH¢ 420,000 fees.

Sources say ordinary party supporters also massed up at Mahama’s residence to contribute GH¢2 and GH¢5 to assist him to raise the funds

Also, MPs4JM, a group of 96 Minority Members of Parliament who have declared their support for Mahama’s bid to run for the NDC flag bearer, have so far mobilized 603 pledges of GH¢1,000 each towards footing the fees of Mr. Mahama.

Surrogates

Followers of Stephen Atubiga said to be from the onion market in Accra have also picked up nomination forms for the presidential hopeful with a bundle of cash amounting to GH¢20,000 as payment for the forms.

Prof. Alabi’s forms on the other hand were picked on his behalf by his campaign team led by former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ken Dzirasah.

The NDC’s presidential primary is slated for 19 January 2019.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson