NDC Ododiodio Parliamentary Primary Suspended Again

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has for the second time suspended the parliamentary primary of the Odododiodio constituency. This time around, it is an indefinite suspension.

In a letter to the party executives of the constituency, the NDC stated that the indefinite suspension became necessary after a court action by one of the three aspirants.

“We wish to inform you that the Party was served with a notice of interlocutory injunction by a parliamentary candidate aspirant of the Odododiodio constituency who was disqualified from contesting the primaries.

“The Functional Executive Committee (FEC), at its meeting on the 16th of January 2024, deliberated on the injunction and the conduct of the elections and decided to postpone the primaries indefinitely.”

A new date will be set for the conduct of the election by the FEC, it said.

Background
The primary which was deferred during the general primary of the party in February 2023 due to outstanding issues was scheduled for October 31; however, the vetting of the three aspirants in the lead-up on Friday, October 13, 2023, was marred by violence.

Supporters of some of the aspirants stormed the regional office in South La, where the vetting was taking place and vandalized some properties at the office, compelling the FEC to suspend the election.

The violence emanated from allegations that Michael Nii Yarboi, one of the three aspirants did not qualify to contest in the election, an allegation which was established by a special committee that was instituted to probe the incident.

After perusing the report of the committee in November 2023, the FEC disqualified Nii Yarboi and directed the constituency’s election directorate to take immediate steps to organize the parliamentary primaries.

Ahead of the primaries, Nii Yarboi has dragged the party to court and injuncted the conduct of the primaries.