The debate over the Tamale High Court’s order for a rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election has intensified, with NPP MP for the constituency Hon. Mathew Nyindam firmly rejecting any suggestion that he has lost his mandate. His response follows days of uncertainty in the constituency and growing political tension surrounding the ruling.
Hon. Nyindam’s insistence that he remains the sitting MP shapes the heart of the controversy and frames a broader national conversation about electoral justice, state power, and legal procedure.
He maintained that the court’s decision does not invalidate his legitimacy as elected representative as he repeatedly stressed his continued status as MP, reaffirming his faith in the electoral record and the political will of the people of Kpandai.
“I am still the MP for Kpandai. I am not afraid of a rerun. I won by a decisive majority” he said, in a forceful assertion of his position. The MP expressed gratitude to his supporters and insisted that despite the ruling, nothing has changed regarding the mandate he believes was lawfully and decisively conferred on him.
“Although we were in court, I can say for sure that for about a week – even before we came – we knew that things were not going to be right. Our opponents were jubilating. They were saying all manner of things about the case in Kpandai, and they were too sure that this is the judgment they were going to get”
Hon. Mathew Nyindam, MP for Kpandai
He described the situation as one that has cast suspicion long before the judgment, citing claims of political manoeuvring in the constituency. His message to constituents was one of composure and confidence, emphasising respect for the ruling even while rejecting its conclusion.
Hon. Nyindam grounded his argument in the numbers, insisting the electoral outcome had been clear. Drawing from the pink sheets, he stated that both the NPP and NDC had access to all 152 polling station results and that these results confirm his victory margin of 3,734 votes.
For him, this is irrefutable proof of the electorate’s decision, a position he reinforced by pointing to admissions made by all contesting parties regarding the completeness of the pink sheets.
Challenging the Court’s Ruling
Hon. Nyindam believes political pressure influenced the process leading to the ruling. His frustration deepened when referencing the presence of senior government officials in court, which he interpreted as an indication of undue state interest in the outcome.
This concern ran through his remarks and culminated in a grim reflection on the broader implications for Ghana’s democracy.
“Because this has never happened before. This is the first time something like this has happened in Ghana. And it should tell all of us that we are not safe. We are not safe. We need to sit up as a nation. Because if the executive can directly come and influence then… where does it end?”
Hon. Mathew Nyindam, MP for Kpandai
Hon. Nyindam stressed that the appeal is already in motion. He noted that his team has filed a stay of execution and an appeal, outlining faith in the appellate process to restore what he views as the legitimate electoral outcome. According to him, the path forward lies in respecting judicial hierarchy and allowing the higher court to determine the matter based on law and facts.
“We are in a country that is governed by laws, and that is why the courts are arranged from a lower level to a higher level. So that when a ruling is given at a lower level and you disagree, you move to the next level, which is what we have done”
Hon. Mathew Nyindam, MP for Kpandai
His lawyer, Sylvester Nsang, reinforced this position through a concise but firm statement on their legal strategy moving forward. Nsang summarised the team’s stance with a clear articulation of respect for due process. “We have accepted the decision, we respect it, but we disagree, and that is why we’re taking the matter to the Court of Appeal,” he added.
This position aligns with Hon. Nyindam’s broader narrative of principled disagreement: acknowledging judicial authority while refusing to yield on what they believe is an unquestionable electoral triumph.
While the NDC has publicly welcomed the ruling, the NPP’s pushback introduces a new chapter in a case that could influence future electoral litigation. The ordered rerun, to be conducted within 30 days, has triggered political mobilisation in Kpandai and heightened scrutiny of the country’s adjudication processes.
Hon. Nyindam’s allegation that the executive might be using state power to engineer electoral outcomes adds gravity to the dispute. For him, the pattern observed in court – accompanied by what he describes as “unusually heavy political presence” – signals a worrying trend for Ghana’s democratic stability.
As the case moves to the Court of Appeal, the constituency remains on edge, watching closely as its political future becomes intertwined with a national test of institutional independence and public trust.
