Nalerigu, North East Region – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) faces a significant hurdle in its internal electoral process as the High Court in Nalerigu issued an interim injunction on May 8, 2026, suspending scheduled polling station elections in the Bunkpurugu Constituency. The order halts any further proceedings related to these elections, slated to run from May 10 to May 15, following a legal challenge by party members.
Legal Challenge Grounds
The injunction stems from an ex-parte motion filed by Konlan Yennuyiab and 16 other NPP members in good standing. They contend that the electoral process violated established party rules and principles of natural justice. The applicants argued that they were unfairly disqualified from participating in the elections.
Presiding Judge Justice Samuel Bright Acquah ruled that the applicants possessed the legal standing to bring the case. Crucially, the court found sufficient evidence suggesting breaches of the party’s own regulations, justifying the intervention.
Potential for Irreparable Damage
The court emphasized that allowing the elections to proceed as planned could inflict “irreparable, irreversible or irredeemable damage” upon the plaintiffs. Such damage could render any subsequent judgment in their favor meaningless, necessitating the immediate halt to the electoral activities.
The NPP, its agents, assigns, and anyone acting under its authority are now restrained from organizing or conducting the polling station elections in Bunkpurugu until the court makes a further determination on the substantive matter.
Lawyer Alleges “Appalling” Disqualifications
Solomon Bitian Damtar Esq., the lawyer representing the 17 applicants, described the reasons for his clients’ disqualification as “appalling.” He stated that many were deemed ineligible based on claims of not being registered party members in the constituency, which he vehemently refuted.
“This is palpable falsehood, because these are qualified members with their dues fully paid, members in good standing who participated in the just ended 2026 presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party,” Damtar told JoyNews after the court proceedings.
Procedural Improprieties Cited
A key argument presented by the applicants’ counsel was the party’s failure to adhere to its own electoral guidelines regarding the timely release of vetting results. This delay, according to Damtar, deprived affected aspirants of the opportunity to utilize internal dispute resolution mechanisms before the elections commenced.
Furthermore, results from some electoral areas had not been released even at the time the case was heard. This created significant uncertainty for aspirants seeking to challenge disqualifications or ensure their inclusion in the electoral process.
Allegations of Orchestrated Exclusion
Lawyer Solomon alleged that the disqualifications were a deliberate and calculated move orchestrated by the NPP Constituency Executive Committee. The alleged aim was to exclude specific members from participating in the elections, thereby manipulating the outcome for personal or political gain.
He stressed that politics is fundamentally a game of numbers and warned against excluding loyal party members based on such motives. The electoral process, he argued, was marred by irregularities, procedural improprieties, and breaches of natural justice, making judicial intervention a necessity.
Path Forward: Injunction and Amicable Resolution
The legal team plans to file a motion for an interlocutory injunction to maintain the suspension of the elections until the substantive case is fully heard and determined. However, Damtar also expressed openness to an amicable resolution.
“The matter could still be resolved amicably if the party leadership at the constituency, regional, or national level engages the affected aspirants and grants them the opportunity to contest,” he noted.
The applicants, speaking to JoyNews, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. They accused members of the constituency executive committee of pursuing a selfish agenda and vowed to see the legal battle through to its logical conclusion.
Implications for NPP and Future Elections
This court injunction casts a shadow over the NPP’s internal election timeline, particularly in the Bunkpurugu Constituency. It highlights potential deep-seated issues within the party’s electoral vetting and dispute resolution processes.
The case underscores the importance of adhering to established party rules and principles of natural justice in internal political contests. Failure to do so can lead to legal challenges, delays, and internal discord, potentially impacting party unity and morale.
Moving forward, attention will be on how the NPP leadership addresses these grievances. Whether the party opts for further legal contention or seeks internal dialogue and resolution will be critical. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in other constituencies as the party gears up for broader national elections.
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