The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Dramani, has warned that more challenges may arise in Parliament following the declaration of four seats in the House vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
With this ruling, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) now has 136 while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has 35 seats. This renders the NDC as the Majority Caucus in Parliament.
Speaking to Alfred Ocansey on Hot Edition on 3FM on October 17, Dr. Dramani highlighted the potential ripple effects of the Speaker’s ruling, particularly regarding the position of the Second Deputy Speaker.
“With the NDC now being the Majority, they will have the opportunity to elect someone to fill the Second Deputy Speaker position, as the current officeholder is part of those affected by the ruling,” he explained.
Dr. Dramani further pointed out that, according to parliamentary standing orders, the two Deputy Speakers must come from different parties.
This creates another unintended consequence of the Speaker’s decision, as the NDC may now have to replace the Second Deputy Speaker, causing further shifts in parliamentary leadership.
The constituencies and the lawmakers affected by the Speaker’s ruling are:
2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, who has also filed to run as an independent candidate.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye-Ackah, Amefi Central, NDC.
The former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu had petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant by invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.
Speaking at a campaign event in the Tamale North Constituency on October 12, Mr. Iddrisu stated that he will initiate the process on Tuesday to have the seats of the MPs declared vacant, citing constitutional violations.
Haruna Iddrisu cited Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution to buttress his point. According to this article, “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament— …(g) if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member; or (h) if he was elected a member of Parliament as an independent candidate and joins a political party.
Read also:
NDC has become Majority even without casting a single ballot – Mahama
By Christabel Success Treve (NSS)
The post NDC will occupy vacant 2nd Deputy Speaker position – ACEPA boss first appeared on 3News.
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