Konadu loses case; her presidential ambitions for 2012 dead!

The Human Rights Court has dismissed an application brought by the flagbearer of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, seeking an order to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to add her name to the ballot paper for the December polls.

"It is demonstrably clear that the applicants have failed to put forward a strong case to obtain a favourable verdict. I cannot do otherwise than to dismiss their application. The application is accordingly dismissed," presiding judge, Justice Kofi Essel Mensah said.

After the EC rejected the NDP's nomination forms on the grounds of an incomplete endorsement, the party filed an application at the Human Rights Court of the High Court, arguing that its flag-bearer's rights had been breached and requesting that the court order the Commission to reverse its decision to disqualify Nana Konadu from contesting the elections.

 But the court today dismissed the application, saying that the NDP had not convincingly made its case. NDP to concentrate on Parliamentary elections Hilarious Abiew, Deputy Communications Director of the NDP, has said although the party is disappointed in the Human Rights Court for dismissing their application against the EC, it is still unperturbed and will now concentrate on the parliamentary elections.

 Speaking on Election Headquarters on Joy News (radio and TV), he said that the party hopes to grab about 50 parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections.

 He said that while the NDP believed they had a good case, party flagbearer Nana Konadu Rawlings had indicated she is no longer interested in contesting the presidency even before the verdict was announced.

 He noted that, among other things, the “Electoral Commissioner could have given us the opportunity to make some corrections or amendments with our nomination forms as they were presented on the day of nomination,” adding that, “the process through which the Electoral Commission went in disqualify our candidate was unlawful.”

The party is currently campaigning vigorously in constituencies, especially the Volta region, where they are confident of winning several seats, including those being contested by NDC bigwigs - Fiifi Kwetey (Ketu South), Okudjeto Ablakwah (North Tongu) and Juliana Azumah (Agotime-Ziope). Asked about the future of Nana Konadu, he said that until the party holds another congress, she will remain the flagbearer and was confident that party delegates will maintain her as flagbearer.

 Source:Myjoyonline.com