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The Political fate of one of the aspirants in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primary in the Ashaiman constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey, is now hanging in the balance.

Reports reaching The DAILY HERITAGE indicatesthat the young man is now in a panic state as an NDC group in the constituency has laced their boots and are ready to head to an Accra High Court to stop him from contesting the upcoming primary in the constituency.

The aggrieved group led by one Francis Awudu has accused the National Vetting Committee of the party of allowing Mr Norgbey who is known in the constituency as the national chairman’s darling boy to contest the primary in Ashaiman, though, some party faithful insist he is not qualified.

The aggrieved members further disclosed that Mr Norgbey is a total stranger in the Ashaiman constituency alleging that he has never voted and is not an active member of the party in the Ashaiman constituency; therefore, allowing him to contest the primary was a slap in the face of the 1992 constitution and that of the party’s constitution.

The leader of the aggrieved group stated that Article 43 clause 9(b) of the amended party constitution states clearly that for a person to be qualified to contest the parliamentary election at the constituency level, the person must be an active member of the party in the said constituency for a period of four years.

“A member shall not be qualified to contest primaries for any parliamentary seat if he is not an active member of the party at the constituency level for the period of four years immediately preceding the date of filing nomination,” the group quoted from the constitution of the party to buttress its position.

The group further stated that even the 1992 constitution of Ghana which is the supreme law of the country also makes it clear that for a person to be qualified to contest for a parliamentary seat, the person must be a resident in the said constituency for which he is standing as a candidate for not less than five years or must hail from the constituency.

Thus, they alleged that Mr Norgbey does not meet the standard and therefore they will drag him and the party to court this week to place an injunction on the upcoming primary in the constituency until the case is decided.

They also alleged that Mr Norgbey could not vote in Ashaiman during the assembly election because his vote is at Lapaz where he and his family reside.

“He could not vote here in Ashaiman during the assembly elections because he has his vote at Lapaz where his whole family is currently residing. Even the upcoming primary where he is contesting, he can’t vote because his name is missing from the Ashaiman voters’ register. We have checked and checked all the polling stations list and he is not part. How can such a person be allowed to contest an election he can’t vote himself?” Mr Awudu fumed.

The members who are from various parts of the Ashaiman constituency said they will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the constitution of the party and that of the National constitution are respected by all.

“We are in the process of petitioning the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and other high profile executives of the party including the former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings to demonstrate to them that the young man is not qualified to contest the Ashaiman constituency seat. We are not saying he is not a member of the party; he can go and contest at Lapaz where he stays if he thinks he has good character and the ability to win,” he noted.

 It will be recalled that a similar group of NDC constituency members had warned the party’s national chairman, Kofi Portuphy, to stay away from the primary in the area or face their wrath.

 Some of the party supporters are also accusing Mr Norgbey of deploying politics of personality attacks, insults and lies, as his means of becoming popular in the constituency.

When Mr Norgbey was contacted, he told the paper that he has been living in Ashaiman for 17 years and the aim of the group was only an attempt to dent his reputation ahead of the November, 21 showdown.

He could not, however, confirm that he has voted at the constituency in any of the national elections held in the past or the just ended district assembly elections.

On the issue of not having the biometry card as a member of the party in the Ashaiman constituency, he gave the code number of one of the polling stations by name Naah Ameley with code number C50702 to prove his innocence.