The New Patriotic Party (NPP) despite battling for the Assin North Parliamentary seat, have agreed with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s decision not to declare the seat vacant.
Speaking on Okay FM, National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye said the position of the speaker is fully backed by law and so far as the case continues to be in court, finality will be brought to the issue.
On the same issue, Deputy majority leader, Afenyo Markin also seconded the speaker’s position, noting that he lack the legal basis to declare the seat vacant.
While speaking on TV3 he said “the practice is that since a stay of execution is filed it operates as a stay until same is dismissed or otherwise. So yes as we speak Mr Quayson has filed a stay of execution pending the hearing his appeal. I am sure parties to the suit will deal with it so let us wait for the decision of the court on his stay then we can talk again.
“Once the stay is determined depending on which way it goes, if the court holds the view that the stay is granted, what it means is that he will remain an MP until the final determination of his case.”
Alban Bagbin refused to declare the Assin North seat vacant.
According to the clerk of Parliament Cyril Nsiah, lawyers of the embattled Member of Parliament of the Constituency, James Quayson, had sent certified documents to the august house, indicating an appeal to challenge the judgement of Cape Coast High Court.
Thus the appeal documents available to the Speaker, according to the Clerk, gives him no doubt but to conclude that the matter remains pending in court; adding that the speaker cannot declare the seat vacant based on legality.
The response by the clerk was in response to a letter written by the Registrar of the General Jurisdiction Division of the Law Court Complex in Accra to declare the MP’s seat vacant.
Source: GhanaFeed.com