All electioneering activities for the conduct of the 2018 Students Representative Council (SRC) elections in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology (KNUST) have been put on hold.
This comes after the SRC Judicial Committee granted an interim court injunction on the election activities, restraining the Electoral Commission and its agent from performing any action.
In statement released and signed by the SRC Judicial Committee Chairman, Suuk Obed and other Judicial members, the JC placed the interim injunction after it received a petition from one Benedict Adjei Nii-Kraku and Kalvin Nii Addo McQuaye asking the Judicial Committee for redress over outrageous amount charged on the sales of SRC nomination forms for the 2018 elections.
According to Benedict Adjei Nii-Kraku and Kalvin Nii Addo McQuaye statement of claim that was brought against the SRC Judicial Committee and EC, it said that the cost of nomination forms, GH 600.00 as announced by the Electoral Commission is unreasonably extravagant and that the bill imposes undue hardship to interested candidates who have a constitutional right to vote and be voted for.
The Applicants are invoking the original jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee under Article 56 of the K.N.U.S.T Constitution 2011 as amended, seeking an interpretation and application of the K.N.U.S.T Constitution.
The plaintiffs are therefore seeking the following reliefs;
An order directing the electoral commission to reduce the fees to more reasonable fee of not less than GHC 300;
A DECLARATION THAT THE Electoral commissioner has abused his discretionary powers by stipulating such an exorbitant price;
A declaration that the price stipulated by the electoral commission violates the right to be voted for;
A declaration that the price stipulation by the electoral commissioner disenfranchises the average ordinary student; and
Any other reliefs the court may deem fit.
Benedict Adjei Nii-Kraku and Kalvin Nii Addo McQuaye are herein praying the court to grant the reliefs set out within this application.
It is based on this matter that the SRC Judicial Committee served a notice to all students of KNUST that effective 18th March 2018, an interim injunction is hereby granted,restraining the Electoral Commission and its agents from performing any acts or undertakings toward the conduct of SRC elections, pending the determination of a substantive matter to be heard on Tuesday, 20th March, 2018.
All stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, the Aspirants and the Electorates should take note.
A breach of the order herein, shall amount to an act of contempt.
Source: Election.essienlive.com