Odike stepped down from the presidential race after his party took him to court for picking nomination forms to contest in the race.

He later endorsed presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo for the December 7 elections.

The NPP is currently holding final regional rallies ahead of the polls.

Nana Akufo-Addo has so far been to the party’s regional rallies in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern and the Brong Ahafo Region.

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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Odike, who had earlier backed out of the 2016 presidential election, indicated that he will organize other smaller political parties to join in canvassing votes for the NPP and its flagbearer to unseat President John Mahama in the December polls.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fxj6Oim86Gdx8RvDJyjVLb6hf8z3ZQ4c”]In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Odike, who endorsed the candidature of President Mahama in the 2012 election, described the Mahama administration as a failure hence his decision.

He said he took the decision because both parties [UPP and NPP] have similar ideas for the growth and development of the country.

“We are throwing our support to the candidate of the NPP simply because his vision and our vision is almost the same, we believe in industrialization, we think that industries is the best way to turn around the fortunes of this country for the better,” he said.

He added that “Nana Addo is a very humble person, very affable and he is a man of intelligence so we believe that if this man is at the helm of affairs of this nation [and he is also a listener], we can advise him in so many ways to change the fortunes of this country for better.”

He argued that, President Mahama has supervised the decline of Ghana’s economy, and has proven that even if he is given additional time, he would do very little to revive the economy.

“He [Mahama] has proven that he cannot deliver. Even if he’s given a hundred years. President Mahama’s economic policies have saddled this country. He doesn’t deserve a renewed mandate,” Odike said.

‘Odike withdraws from presidential race’

The flagbearer had earlier announced his withdrawal from this year’s presidential polls citing “personal” reasons for the decision.

Some executives of the UPP in September this year, dragged Mr. Odike to court asking that he should be prevented from filing his nomination forms to contest in the upcoming polls.

 ‘UPP sacks Odike from party’

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the United Progressive Party (UPP), earlier this year, also said they had dismissed Mr Odike from the party after what it described as gross disrespect for the party’s constitution.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Some executives of the UPP dragged Mr. Odike to court in September 2016, to prevent him from filling nomination forms to contest as the party’s presidential candidate.

A letter dated November 8, 2016, from lawyers of the UPP to the EC, reminded the commission about the court case.

The letter sighted by citifmonline.com reads: “we have the instruction of our clients to bring to your notice that the suit instituted on the 28/9/2016 challenging the Membership and capacity of Mr. Akwasi Addai Odike as flagbearer for the United Progressive Party is currently pending before the court for a determination.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”MSeW4oX4MprqXL0E0LcsapJ9xJGiPBKI”]The letter noted that, the matter was heard on November 7, 2016 “and was adjourned to the 5^th day of December 2016, for further hearing of the matter.”

“We have instructions of our client to bring to your notice the pendency of this action in court to prevent your office from any dealings with the said Akwasi Addai Odike until the final determination of the said suit. Please be accordingly advised,” the letter from the Aduaprokye chambers, solicitors for the UPP party added.

The letter comes on the back of a Supreme Court order to the EC to give some flagbearers it disqualified from the presidential race a hearing, and also extend the nomination period for an extra two days, ending today [Tuesday] November 8.

Background

The executives in their writ, are seeking “a declaration that the first defendant [Odike] is not a member of the United Progressive Party having been dismissed by a unanimous resolution of the National Executive Committee of the UPP on grounds of misconduct.”

They are also seeking an order of “perpetual injunction restraining the 1st defendant his agents, assigns, privies, workmen and however described from carrying himself as the flagbearer of the UPP.”

The executives also want the court to stop the Electoral Commission from accepting Odike’s nomination forms.

“An order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant from issuing, accepting and registering the 1st defendant to contest the 2016 presidential elections as the flagbearer of the United Progressive Party,” the writ added.

EC disqualifies 12 flagbearers

The EC on September 30, 2016 disqualified some 12 flagbearers because of some discrepancies on their nomination forms.

In the case of Mr. Odike, the EC cited the pending lawsuit, and thus put acceptance of the UPP flagbearer on hold until the case is determined.

EC dragged to court

Some of the 12 flagbearers including the Progressive People’s Party’s Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the National Democratic Party’s Nana Kondadu Agyeman Rawlings, the All People’s Party’s Hassan Ayariga, and others, are fighting their disqualification in court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the EC to the extend the nomination period for an extra two days to allow for the disqualified aspirants to amend the errors on their forms.

The Commission has also set November 10, 2016, to hold the balloting for the presidential candidates, following the ruling of the Supreme Court.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post UPP still fighting Odike in court for picking nomination form appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The action was taken by the National Organizer of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Stephen Kwaku Saahene and some regional executives of the party.

The executives in their writ are seeking “a declaration that the first defendant [Odike] is not a member of the United Progressive Party having been dismissed by a unanimous resolution of the National Executive Committee of the UPP on grounds of misconduct.”

They are also seeking an order of “perpetual injunction restraining the 1^st defendant his agents, assigns, privies, workmen and however described from carrying himself as the flagbearer of the UPP.”

The executives also want the court to stop the Electoral Commission from accepting the nomination forms of Odike.

“An order of injunction restraining the 2^nd defendant from issuing, accepting and registering the 1^st defendant to contest the 2016 presidential elections as the flagbearer of the United Progressive Party,” the writ added.

Nomination forms

The EC opened nominations earlier in September and pegged the filing fees for presidential hopefuls at GHc50,000 and that of parliamentary nominees at GHc10,000.

Despite agitations for a reduction in the filing fees, about 23 presidential hopefuls including Odike had picked nomination form and would submit them between today [Thursday] and Friday.

UPP sacks Flagbearer

The National Executive Committee of the UPP on March 2016 dismissed Odike on what the committee say is gross disrespect for the party’s constitution on his part.

“That’s the concern of the National Executive members. We had a meeting on Friday from all the regions in Kumasi. I chaired it and we have signatures of all the national executive committee members for Odike’s dismissal,” Acting National Chairman of the UPP, Alhaji Bashiru Zakari told Citi News.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post UPP sues flagbearer to stop him from contesting December polls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.