Tensions flared in the Bunkpurugu Constituency of the North East region on Sunday, May 10, when New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency executives allegedly attempted to proceed with polling station elections despite a standing interim injunction from the High Court in Nalerigu. The legal order, issued last Friday, aimed to prevent the elections due to alleged party rule violations and breaches of natural justice, prompting a security intervention to maintain order.
Court Order Issued to Prevent ‘Irreparable Damage’
The High Court in Nalerigu granted the injunction following an ex parte motion filed by 17 party members. These applicants challenged the electoral process, citing violations of party regulations and principles of natural justice. Presiding Judge, Justice Samuel Bright Acquah, ruled that allowing the elections to proceed as scheduled between May 10 and May 15 could inflict “irreparable, irreversible, or irredeemable damage” on the plaintiffs.
This ruling suggested that the potential harm could undermine any future judgment by the court, emphasizing the seriousness of the applicants’ concerns.
Security Deployed as Executives Allegedly Defy Injunction
Despite the court order being officially served on all involved parties and receiving media coverage, reports indicate that some polling station executives made attempts to conduct the elections on Sunday. This defiance led to protests and necessitated the deployment of armed police officers.
Security forces intervened at a polling station in Bimbagu and the Lutheran Church in Bunkpurugu. Election materials, including ballot papers, were confiscated by the police to prevent the unauthorized exercise from taking place. The District Police Commander reportedly summoned party members to the police station, issuing a stern warning that any individual defying the court order would face arrest.
Constituency Chairman Accepts Responsibility for Communication Lapses
In an interview with JoyNews, Constituency Chairman Thomas Elisha acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the situation and took responsibility for the confusion. He cited a failure to communicate the court injunction to the election committee promptly, attributing it to his demanding schedule.
“It was on Friday evening that I received the court injunction, and yesterday I was attending a funeral at Nakpanduri, so it was today that I intended to call my people and inform them about the court letter,” Elisha explained. He was reportedly in church when the District Police Commander alerted him to the rising tensions in the constituency.
Call for Calm and Adherence to Legal Process
The Constituency Chairman urged for calm among party members and stressed the importance of respecting the court’s order. He called upon the election committee and all members to suspend all election-related activities until the court provides further rulings.
“First of all, I have to sit the committee down and make everyone understand that the court has placed an injunction before I go out to inform the entire constituency that there will be no elections until we comply with what the court is telling us,” he stated.
Some of the applicants who initiated the legal action also voiced their support for a calm resolution. However, they emphasized the necessity of strict adherence to the rule of law while the matter is still under judicial review.
Implications and Future Outlook
The disruption of the NPP’s internal elections in Bunkpurugu highlights the challenges political parties face in managing internal democratic processes, especially when legal disputes arise. The incident underscores the critical role of clear communication and adherence to established legal frameworks, even within party structures.
Moving forward, the focus will be on how the NPP leadership addresses the concerns raised by the applicants and whether the election committee can reschedule the polling station elections in compliance with the court’s directives. The outcome of this legal challenge could set a precedent for dispute resolution within the party, influencing future electoral processes and potentially impacting the party’s unity and readiness for upcoming political contests.
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