On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Speaker Alban Bagbin ruled in favour of the NDC caucus after deliberating on a petition from Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu (presented by Dr.
Cassiel Ato Forson) to declare four seats in the House vacant.
Reading his ruling on Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Speaker noted that the decision by the affected MPs to contest in the December 7, 2024, election as independent or on the ticket of a party different from the party on whose ticket they currently serve, contravened Article 97 (g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that the motive and operational effect of Article 97(g) and (h) was to cure the issues of cross carpeting and defection as witnessed in parliaments of old.