The petition calls for the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. Bagbin emphasized that the matter was not only serious but urgent, necessitating careful deliberation.
After listening to both the Majority and Minority caucuses, Speaker Bagbin indicated the need to review the arguments further before making his ruling.
However, he gave a subtle hint about his potential decision by referencing a biblical proverb, which many interpreted as a critique of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, who may be affected by the ruling.
“What I believe is that ‘Do unto others as you want others to do unto you’ and ‘When you plant evil, you will reap evil,’” he said
This biblical reference has sparked speculation about whether Bagbin’s comments were connected to a similar case from 2020 when Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, then Speaker of Parliament, declared the Fomena Constituency seat vacant.
The NPP had requested the declaration after Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the sitting MP, ran as an independent candidate, having lost the party’s primary. Amoako Asiamah later won the election as an independent and returned to Parliament.
Now, Haruna Iddrisu’s petition calls for the same action, as two NPP MPs from Agona West and Suhum have filed to contest the 2024 elections as independent candidates.
Additionally, the independent MP for Fomena is running as an NPP candidate, and the MP for Amenfi Central, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, has also filed as an independent.
Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution supports this petition, stating that a seat should be vacated if an MP leaves their party or contests as an independent.
Given these circumstances, the Speaker’s ruling will likely have significant implications for the composition of Parliament and the political future of the affected MPs.
