Lawyers for the Electoral Commission (EC), first respondent in the 2021 election petition hearing, have described the decision by former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama to drag the EC to court over the EC’s declared result as unfortunate.
The lawyers argued that the harmless mistake made by EC Chairperson, Jean Mensah while declaring the December 7, 2020 election result on December 9, 2020 has no bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the election which subsequently triggered the petition.
Continuing with their argument, the noted that former President Mahama could not put any evidence before the Apex Court of the court, Supreme Court in his quest to challenge the election results and for that matter, the declaration of the result. The lawyers have therefore prayed the Supreme Court to dismiss the petitioner’s case adding that it lacks merit.
The EC’s lawyers’ submission is contained in the written closing address filed by the lawyers in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders which is hoping to give its ruling on March 4, 2021.
Former President John Dramani Mahama filed a petition rejecting the election results as declared on December 9. He stated that none of the candidates who contested the December 7 polls including himself met the constitutional threshold of obtaining more than 50% of the valid votes cast.
The Electoral Commission and President Akufo-Addo were named as respondents in the petition as required by law.
Lawyers for the Former President in the course of the trial served the EC with a document asking that it admits certain facts including that its chairperson announced 13.4 million as valid votes cast while handing President Akufo-Addo, 6.7 million votes.
They say the failure of the EC to admit or rebut these facts within 14 days as required by law means the facts have been admitted.
He alleges that Mr. Akufo-Addo benefited from vote padding and computational errors supervised and carried out by the Electoral Commission.
They are therefore urging the Supreme Court to on March 4, direct the Electoral Commission to organize a run-off between President Akufo-Addo and Mr. Mahama.
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