The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has officially confirmed its operational readiness to conduct a high-stakes parliamentary rerun in the Kpandai Constituency, currently scheduled for Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Despite a looming legal cloud and a pending challenge at the nation’s apex court, the Commission remains steadfast in its mandate, positioning itself as a “law-abiding institution,” that is prepared to execute the poll unless a definitive judicial intervention dictates otherwise.
According to Fred Tetteh, the Deputy Director of Research at the EC, the Commission’s preparatory machinery is already operating at full throttle.
“In terms of the ballot paper printing, we will inform the political parties of the date. Training will be done within five days of the poll. In terms of the preparations, we are ready. We will publish a notice of poll to inform the public in Kpandai about the conduct of the rerun”
Fred Tetteh, Deputy EC Director of Research
In a strategic move to ensure security and centralize oversight, the EC has opted to conduct all sensitive printing in the national capital rather than within the constituency itself. This centralization of the ballot-printing process is intended to mitigate local tensions and ensure that political parties can be formally invited to monitor the schedule and integrity of the materials.
The EC further clarified that the final stretch of preparations – including the publication of the official Notice of Poll and the recruitment of temporary staff – can be condensed into a ten-day window. Mr. Tetteh explained that the Commission has already recalled experienced officials to oversee the process, “ensuring that the personnel on the ground are well-versed in the specific electoral requirements of a rerun.”
The upcoming election, which has effectively frozen the political landscape in the Northern Region, follows a tumultuous period of litigation. The seat was declared vacant after the Tamale High Court annulled the victory of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Hon. Mathew Nyindam.
However, the legal battle has now shifted to the Supreme Court, where Hon. Nyindam is seeking to quash the lower court’s judgment. This judicial tug-of-war has created a unique scenario where administrative preparation is racing against legal deliberation.
Judicial Stalemate
While the EC’s technical readiness appears absolute, the legal validity of the December 30 date remains contingent on the Supreme Court.
The Commission finds itself in a delicate position, balancing its constitutional duty to fill a vacant seat with the necessity of respecting the appellate process.
“We are aware of an Appeal in court, and as a law-abiding institution, we fixed the date on December 30, 2025. We don’t know what will happen from the Appeal. Whatever happens, if the Supreme Court rules otherwise, we’re going by our date”
Fred Tetteh, Deputy EC Director of Research
This stance reflects a broader administrative philosophy where the EC maintains its schedule to prevent a vacuum in representation, while acknowledging that the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of the election’s legitimacy.
The political stakes of the rerun are underscored by a fresh poll released on December 14, 2025, by Global InfoAnalytics that suggests that the Kpandai electorate remains deeply polarized, with the two main contenders locked in a statistical dead heat.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Hon. Mathew Nyindam, currently holds a narrow lead with 50 percent of voter support. His closest rival, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Daniel Nsala Wakpal, secured 46 percent.
This 4 per cent margin places immense pressure on both parties to mobilize their bases in the final fortnight of the year. For the NPP, retaining the seat would be a validation of Hon. Nyindam’s leadership and a rebuke of the High Court’s initial ruling.
For the NDC, the rerun represents a crucial opportunity to flip a seat and strengthen the government’s parliamentary majority.
As the December 30 deadline approaches, Kpandai stands as a microcosm of the nation’s larger political and judicial tensions, waiting to see if the ballot box or the gavel will have the final word.
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