Parliament has formally declared the Kpandai Constituency seat vacant and has notified the Electoral Commission (EC) to begin preparations for a by-election, following a decisive ruling by the Tamale High Court that nullified the 2024 parliamentary results and ordered a complete rerun.
The notification, issued by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, marks a critical turning point in what has become one of the most politically charged and legally contested parliamentary seats in recent years.
In a letter addressed to the EC Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, the Clerk invoked the constitutional authority granted under Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution, stating his duty to officially communicate any vacancy in the membership of Parliament.
“In exercise of the power conferred and the duty imposed on the Clerk to Parliament by Article 112(5)… I, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, DO HEREBY FORMALLY NOTIFY you of the occurrence of a vacancy in the membership of Parliament, occasioned by the Order of the High Court, Tamale, for a rerun of the Kpandai Parliamentary Elections, given on the 24th day of November, 2025.”
Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror
He emphasized that the notice was issued pursuant to the service of the court order in the suit numbered NR/TL/HC/E13/22/25. This constitutional step clears the way for the EC to set a date for the by-election, which must now be conducted to fill the seat.
The High Court ruling that triggered the vacancy followed a petition by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Mr. Daniel Nsala Wakpal, who contested the declaration of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Hon. Matthew Nyindam, as the winner of the December 7, 2024 polls.
The court, presided over by His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, held that the breaches of the Public Elections Regulations during the election were so significant and widespread that the results in their entirety could not be upheld.
The ruling has dramatically altered the political landscape in Kpandai. Moments after the judgment was delivered, NDC supporters in the constituency flooded the streets in jubilation, celebrating what they described as a victory for electoral justice.
For them, the decision vindicated months of persistent claims of irregularities and procedural violations during the election. The constituency, already known as a battleground between the two major political parties, has since witnessed heightened political tension as both the NDC and NPP prepare for what analysts expect to be a fiercely fought rerun.
Parliamentary Implications
The parliamentary implications of the court ruling have been the subject of intense debate. Earlier, some members of the NDC Majority Caucus called for the immediate declaration of the Kpandai seat as vacant.
However, Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin ruled otherwise, directing that Matthew Nyindam continue to serve as Member of Parliament until 1 December 2025 despite the High Court order.
His ruling was anchored in his stated belief that the court’s directive had not yet attained finality. This position sparked controversy and deepened disagreement between the two sides of the House.
Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus has taken a strong stance against the High Court ruling. Led by its Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Caucus issued a detailed statement rejecting the basis of the decision.
They described the court’s conclusion as troubling and insisted that the electoral process in Kpandai had been transparent, credible, and reflective of the people’s true will.
According to them, the evidence presented in court did not justify nullifying the entire election. Their statement, released in Accra, has intensified public discourse around the case, with many questioning the legal thresholds used by the court to arrive at its decision.
Despite the political disagreements, Parliament’s notification to the EC has now formalized the process, with the onus shifting to the Commission to determine the timelines and modalities for the by-election.
As required by law, the EC is expected to act promptly, given that vacancies of this nature normally trigger electoral processes within a constitutionally prescribed period. The coming weeks are set to define the political temperature in Kpandai and may offer early indicators of broader national political trends.
As the EC prepares to announce its next steps, both major political parties are already gearing up. The NDC views the rerun as an opportunity to reclaim the seat under conditions they believe will be more transparent, while the NPP remains determined to defend its hold on the constituency.
With the declaration of vacancy now official, the Kpandai Constituency enters a critical phase. The rerun will not only determine who ultimately represents the people in Parliament but will also serve as a significant test of Ghana’s electoral and judicial institutions, as well as the nation’s commitment to upholding democratic principles.
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