THE REPUBLIC vs. THE HIGH COURT, BOLGATANGA, HAJIA FATI SEIDU

On Tuesday, 15th January, 2001, we unanimously granted the prayer of Madam Hawa Yakubu, the applicant herein, to quash the proceedings and order of the Bolgatanga High Court dated 6th January, 2001 in petition No. C.S. 18/2000 intituled Hajia Fati Seidu Vrs. Madam Hawa Yakubu & 2 Ors. We reserved our reasons which we now proceed to deliver. Madam Hawa Yakubu and Madam Hajia Fati Seidu were two of the candidates that contested in the 7th December, 2000 parliamentary elections for the Bawku Central Constituency. Madam Hawa Yakubu stood on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), while Madam Hajia Fati Seidu was the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate. In all there were 151 polling stations in that constituency. The result of the votes counted showed Madam Hawa Yakubu winning that parliamentary seat. Thereafter, Madam Hajia Fati Seidu filed a petition at the Bolgatanga High Court against Madam Hawa Yakubu as 1st Respondent, the Electoral Commission as 2nd Respondent, and the...