Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has missed the deadline to submit a statement of case in the Supreme Court concerning the ongoing dispute over vacant parliamentary seats.On Monday, November 11, there was a noticeable lack of representation from Bagbin’s side during court proceedings. The case centers on the eligibility of certain Members of Parliament (MPs) to retain their seats after announcing their intention to run as independents.

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The Supreme Court had previously instructed the Speaker to file the necessary documents by Wednesday, November 6. This followed a request for an extension from the Speaker’s legal representative, Thaddeus Sory, who cited the need for more time to consult with the Speaker and gather instructions for a thorough submission.

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Despite the granted extension, the required statement was not filed by the deadline, raising questions about the Speaker’s stance on the matter.In court, Attorney-General Godfred Dame argued that the Speaker’s participation in the case was unnecessary. He emphasized that the Attorney General’s office was authorized to represent public officers in matters of constitutional interpretation.

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Mr Dame urged the court to proceed with the case without further delay, as any postponements would only extend the legal uncertainty.The case seeks to determine whether MPs can retain their seats if they declare themselves independent or switch political allegiance before an election.

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