Accra: The National Chairman for the People's National Party (PNP), Janet Nabla, has expressed strong opposition to the Supreme Court's recent decision to eliminate the delegates system and mandate that all registered party members in good standing be allowed to vote in presidential and parliamentary primaries. She views this decision as an unwarranted interference in the operations of political parties.
According to Ghana Web, Janet Nabla criticized the court's ruling during an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, emphasizing that political parties are independent entities in Ghana and should not be subject to such directives from the judiciary. She described the decision as unjust and predicted it would not endure over time.
Madam Nabla highlighted that the court's decision reflects a lack of understanding about the financial dynamics of political parties. She argued that complying with this directive would impose a significant financial burden on parties, suggesting that the Supreme Court should have considered these financial implications before making its decision.
Furthermore, she criticized the plaintiffs who advocated for this change, noting that the previous delegates system ensured that only members in good standing could vote. She pointed out that some party members hold dual registrations, which could complicate the new voting process. Nabla insisted that the court should have allowed parties to maintain their existing systems to protect their autonomy.
Madam Nabla also emphasized that political parties operate based on their financial capabilities and should not be forced to adhere to directives that exceed their resources. She asserted that without financial support from the Supreme Court, parties would likely continue following their established practices rather than the court's directive.
When questioned about whether this ruling was a suitable approach to addressing election monetization issues, Nabla dismissed such claims as uninformed, warning that expanding the voter base in this manner could set a problematic precedent.