The Tamale High Court’s recent decision ordering a complete re-run of the 2024 Kpandai parliamentary election within thirty days has triggered intense reactions, particularly from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) whose supporters poured into the streets in jubilation.
The ruling delivered by His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange upheld the petition of the NDC parliamentary candidate Mr. Daniel Nsala Wakpal who challenged the declaration of Hon. Matthew Nyindam of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the December 7th polls.
The court concluded that breaches of the Public Elections Regulations were so widespread that the validity of the entire constituency result could not stand. This outcome has renewed political tension in the constituency as both parties prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested re-run.
The judgment has emboldened NDC officials who insist that the ruling confirms their long-held claims of electoral manipulation.
Their Deputy Director of Elections Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer addressed supporters shortly after the ruling and declared that the outcome represents justice for the people of Kpandai, as the party’s persistent warnings about compromised election officers had been vindicated.
“We are grateful to the courts for having done justice to the good people of Kpandai. All along the NDC has been saying that there are several crooked electoral officers who are bent on stealing people’s mandate and one of these is what has been exposed today”
Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, NDC Deputy Director of Elections
According to him the collation process clearly violated Regulation 43 of CI100 and 27 of Ghana’s electoral laws, which outlines the use of Form 1C and Form 1D in assembling and summarising results before declaration. He insisted that the processes were bypassed as figures were hastily transported to Tamale and used to declare the NPP candidate.
Beyond Dr. Tanko-Computer’s criticism of the manner in which the previous results were announced, he addressed the NDC’s response.
“This is what they did and that is why we made sure that we followed through the process of seeking redress” he added, emphasising that the NDC pursued the case lawfully and that the ruling confirms their belief that the seat rightfully belonged to the party.
Warning to Avoid Rerun
Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer maintained that the NPP should avoid the re-run altogether because the NDC is prepared for a decisive victory. His statement to party supporters reflected confidence in both the judgment and the party’s organisational machinery.
“NPP should not come for the re-run. We will hand them a heavy defeat. We are going to make sure that the seat will return to the NDC within 30 days” he declared in a charged environment to the chant of party supporters.
“If they still want to have some kind of respect for and from the good people of Ghana, they should chicken out now like how they chickened out in Tamale Central. Otherwise, our election machinery – is going to defeat them heavily”
Dr. Rashid Tanko-Computer, NDC Deputy Director of Elections
His comments align with the wider excitement among NDC supporters who view the judgment as a major step towards strengthening their already overwhelming parliamentary presence under President John Dramani Mahama – at a time when the administration continues to emphasise respect for due process and electoral accountability.
The NDC Deputy Director of Elections assured supporters that the party would return to the constituency immediately to prepare for the fresh poll. His remarks included a pledge that the people of Kpandai would receive benefits under the current government and that the party remains committed to lawful political conduct.
“We assure them that his excellency John Dramani Mahama will continue to do good deeds for them,” he said.
The judicial decision itself reflects the detailed petition presented by Mr. Daniel Nsala Wakpal who highlighted serious irregularities across forty one polling stations including inconsistencies detected on Form 8A under Regulations 32-7 and 39-2.
He argued that the non compliance affected the final outcome and requested a re-run in those stations.
Justice Plange however determined that the irregularities were not isolated to those centres and that the integrity of the entire constituency election had been compromised. As a result the court directed the Electoral Commission to conduct a new election in all polling stations within thirty days.
The NPP has not yet issued a detailed response although the ruling is expected to intensify activity among its supporters who may view the re-run as an opportunity to reclaim the seat.
With the court giving a fixed deadline and the NDC declaring readiness to contest the seat even the next day, the re-run sets the stage for a highly competitive contest that could affect the balance of parliamentary expectations.
The constituency now awaits action from the Electoral Commission which must organise the fresh poll amid heightened scrutiny and rising political interest.
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