The Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has described as “needless” and wrong the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

According to him, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, presented their case under Order 93, which, he argues, does not grant the Speaker any authority to make such a statement or declaration.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, October 19, he stated that the Speaker should have referred the matter to a committee.

• Read also: Speaker Bagbin declares 4 Parliamentary seats vacant

He explained: “It did not in any case say the Speaker can come out with a ruling. If it says may, there is still room to either do that or not, it’s discretional. 

“But the point is that it did not also give him the opportunity to come with a ruling of which the ruling seeks to say that some seats are vacant.”

Mr Iddrisu asserted that the Supreme Court acted appropriately in issuing a stay of execution on the Speaker’s declaration.

• Read also: Supreme Court stays Speaker’s ruling ousting 4 MPs from Parliament

According to him, the Speaker’s ruling affected the composition of Parliament and the fundamental rights of the four Members of Parliament whose seats were declared vacant.

The Tolon MP reiterated: “What the Speaker did was wrong, it was needless. He doesn’t have that authority declaring seats vacant.”