Stephen Donkor sues NDC over exclusion from General Secretary race

Stephen Donkor, an aspirant for the General Secretary position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has initiated legal action against the party and its Director of Elections and IT, Mahdi Gibrill. The lawsuit follows Donkor’s exclusion from the list of successfully cleared nominees for the party’s upcoming internal elections. Despite having paid the mandatory GH¢80,000 nomination fee, the plaintiff alleges he was systematically prevented from completing the application process through technical interference.

According to the court filings, Mr. Donkor claims that unauthorized changes were made to his login credentials on the party’s nomination portal. This disruption occurred at a critical stage, effectively blocking him from submitting the necessary documentation within the stipulated timeframe. The aspirant contends that these actions were deliberate attempts to sideline his candidacy, as he had fulfilled the financial requirements necessary to contest the high-ranking administrative post within the NDC.

The legal challenge is anchored in Article 23 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which stipulates that administrative bodies and officials must act fairly and reasonably. Mr. Donkor’s legal team argues that the party’s management of the digital nomination process failed to meet these constitutional standards for administrative justice. By failing to ensure a transparent and accessible filing system, the lawsuit asserts that the NDC has violated the plaintiff's fundamental right to participate in the political process.

In his suit, Mr. Donkor is seeking a court order to compel the NDC to restore his access to the nomination portal or provide an alternative method for submission. He is also requesting that the court reverse his current exclusion and allow him to finalize his nomination for the General Secretary role. As the party prepares for its internal leadership contests, the outcome of this case could set a significant precedent for how political organizations manage digital transitions and handle internal administrative disputes.