Private legal practitioner Justice Abdulai has described the Supreme Court’s recent decision to halt electoral processes in the Kpandai parliamentary rerun pending the determination of a certiorari application as wise, practical and in the best interest of the nation.
According to him, while the Supreme Court has wide discretionary powers, it does not often intervene in this manner, making the decision both notable and significant.
“The Supreme Court is not bound by precedent in the way people assume,” he explained. “You do not go there expecting that because a decision was taken one way in the past, it will automatically be repeated.”
Justice Abdulai said the court’s action must be understood within the context of the pending application for certiorari and the proximity of an election date.
He noted that the application before the court could either lead to the High Court’s decision being quashed or allowed to stand.
Proceeding with an election before the Supreme Court determines that matter, he argued, would create unnecessary uncertainty.
“What sense does it make to conduct an election, swear in an MP, and then weeks later have a Supreme Court decision that could nullify everything?” he questioned.
Justice Abdulai warned that such a scenario could result in a Member of Parliament serving for only a few weeks, a situation he described as a waste of time, resources and public confidence.
He said the Supreme Court’s decision to pause the process for a short period was a practical and reasonable step that protects the integrity of the electoral process and avoids avoidable disruption.
“At this point, the Supreme Court is being reasonable and pragmatic,” he stated, adding that the decision preserves public resources and prevents institutional confusion.
Justice Abdulai also commended the court for what he described as a renewed sense of independence, noting that the posture of the Supreme Court reflects sensitivity to national sentiment rather than partisan or individual interests.
“For the first time in a long while, I genuinely feel we have a Supreme Court that is independent and attuned to the interest of the nation,” he said.
He concluded by emphatically praising the apex court for taking what he described as a bold and responsible decision.
