An Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Sedina Agbamava, has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its directive requiring political appointees to step down before contesting party executive elections.
The ruling clears the legal path for the ruling party to fully enforce its guidelines for internal regional and national elections, approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
The suit seeking an injunction against the NDC’s mandatory resignation policy was dismissed in its entirety.
The scope of the directive applied to political appointees, including former or sitting Ministers, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Managing Directors (MDs), and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), seeking party executive roles.
According to the party, the affected appointees ought to resign from their positions at least six months prior to contesting regional or national leadership seats.
With the dismissal of the suit, the NDC retains full internal authority to implement its election roadmap leading into the party’s primary season.
The guideline was designed by the party leadership to maintain administrative focus, prevent the potential misuse of public office resources during internal campaigning, and ensure a level playing field among candidates competing for party roles.
“The decision affirms the autonomy of political parties to regulate their internal electoral processes through their supreme decision-making bodies,” legal analysts noted following the ruling.
Party leadership is expected to communicate detailed timelines and filing procedures for the upcoming regional and national executive races in the coming days.
