The Supreme Court has set January 22 to give its ruling on the motion filed by the National Democratic Congress seeking to be joined as a respondent to the presidential election petition brought by New Patriotic Party leaders, Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. The court set the date Wednesday after hearing arguments from lawyers for the applicants and counter arguments from lawyers for petitioners who are opposing the application. Tsatsu Tsikata who argued for the NDC said it was only fair and just to allow the NDC join the case because any decision reached by the court will directly affect the NDC as an entity. Barring any unforeseen circumstances the nine Justices will rule on January 22. The petitioners are seeking to annul the 2012 election results declared in favour of President John Mahama by the Electoral Commission. They claim over 1.3 million votes were illegally counted and are praying the court to strike out the illegal votes. Both the first respondent, President John Mahama and the second respondent, the Electoral Commission have rubbished the allegations and are calling on the court to dismiss the writ. The NDC, with its joinder application, is seeking to be the third respondent but that is dependent on the January 22 ruling.