EC, Mahama beat deadline; file addresses

The respondents in the presidential election petition have filed their addresses at the Supreme Court late Tuesday afternoon to beat a July 30 deadline set by the judges hearing the case.

The Electoral Commission, the second respondent in the presidential election petition was led by the Head of Audit Joseph Asamoah who submitted a 15 paged document, 19 copies each, in a vehement defence of their claim that the 2012 elections were free and fair.

Joy News' Anny Osabutey says lawyers for the first respondent, President John Mahama, have filed a separate address from the address intended to be filed by the third respondent which is the NDC.

It comes as a surprise because the two parties filed a joint answer to the petition and put up a single witness in the person of the NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

But they have decided to file a separate address, Anny Osabutey has confirmed.

Victor Adawudu filed a 20 paged document each with an appendix attached to it on behalf of the president. The NDC was, however, yet to complete the process, Anny Osabutey stated.

The petitioners had early on filed a 16-box address with the Registrar in support of their claim that the elections were pregnant with irregularity.

The filing of the addresses marks the beginning of the end of a seven month long petition against the 2012 elections declared by the Electoral Commission.

The judges have 15 days to give a judgement after a successful filing of the addresses, but before that, they will, however, give directions on what the next line of action will be when they meet the parties tomorrow.