The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has declared that National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators will assume the Majority position in Parliament when the House reconvenes on Tuesday, October 22, unless the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, issues a contrary directive.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show with host Bernard Avle, Ayariga emphasized that MPs are bound to act on the Speaker’s rulings, not on the Supreme Court’s stay of execution of Bagbin’s decision, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
Ayariga argued that the NDC caucus will proceed with Bagbin’s original ruling until instructed otherwise.
“We will act according to Bagbin’s communique and until he communicates otherwise, we will go by his current decision and so if he comes and communicates to us what the court has ruled, we will act because we listen to the Speaker and not to the court.
“We are ignoring the Supreme Court because it is not supposed to interfere in our work and the constitution is clear on that so it is surprising that the Supreme Court which is the apex of the law will go ahead and rule when it should have stayed off.”
This stance follows Speaker Bagbin’s declaration on Thursday, October 17, that four parliamentary seats—Amenfi Central, Fomena, Suhum, and Agona West—were vacant. The Speaker based his decision on a motion filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, citing constitutional provisions that require MPs who switch political affiliations or contest as independent candidates to forfeit their seats.
However, the Supreme Court quashed the Speaker’s decision on Thursday, October 18, granting a stay of execution of Bagbin’s ruling.
The Court’s intervention came after a request was made by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. But Ayariga criticized the Supreme Court’s involvement, asserting that it overstepped its boundaries
“This is a matter that should not have been entertained by the Supreme Court. This was a matter that was supposed to even go to the High Court. What is so urgent that the Supreme Court had to convene and decide on the matter in less than 24 hours?
“These are matters that the Supreme Court should not be interfering in and the Supreme Court must stay off these matters. To come in and say these things makes one think the Supreme Court is an extension of the NPP. These are pure matters that the Supreme Court should not be involved in.”
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