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Background
The parliamentary election for the Kpandai Constituency, like all the other constituencies, was held on December 7, 2024. According to the Electoral Commission (EC), the results showed that Matthew Nyindam of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, won with 27,947 votes while Daniel Nsala Wakpal of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, had 24,213 votes.
However, Mr Wakpal challenged the results at the Tamale High Court. He alleged serious irregularities in the conduct, collation, and documentation of the election. Central to his case was that in 41 out of the 152 polling stations, the official “pink sheets” contained inconsistencies and irregularities, breaches of electoral laws.
Moreover, Mr Wakpal’s petition accused the EC of moving the constituency collation centre without notifying candidates or agents, meaning he was deprived of the right to observe collation, challenge anomalies, or request recounts as provided under law.
The irregularities cited included mismatches in voter accountings, missing or unsigned forms, and missing vote totals, among others, all of which, the petitioner argued, undermined the integrity and fairness of the election in Kpandai.
Court’s Decision: What the Judgement Was
On November 24, 2025, the Tamale High Court, led by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, delivered its judgment. The Court concluded that the irregularities and non-compliance with electoral regulations, especially in the 41 polling stations challenged, were serious enough to affect the outcome.
As a result, the Court nullified the entire 2024 parliamentary election results for Kpandai. It ordered a fresh parliamentary election rerun in the constituency, instructing the EC to hold the new poll within 30 days.
This means the court set aside the declaration of Matthew Nyindam as NPP MP-elect. The full ruling by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange can be found here.
Summary Of What The Irregularities Look Like
| Issue Category | What It Means | No. of Stations (approx.) | Impact |
| Ballot accounting errors | Votes, verified counts, or issued ballots don’t match | 20+ | Could inflate totals |
| Missing vote totals | Key numbers (valid, rejected, total votes) absent | 7+ | Impossible to confirm results |
| Missing signatures or serial numbers | Weak authentication, legality concerns | 6+ | Violates EC CI 127 requirements |
| Unexplained missing pink sheets | 6 originals unavailable for inspection | 6 | Lack of transparency |
| Incorrect or missing verification data | BVD/manual verification not recorded | 10+ | Potentially unauthorized voting |
Source: Tamale High Court
Aftermath: Legal and Parliamentary Actions
Immediately after the ruling, the NPP MP Matthew Nyindam filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution, signalling his intention to challenge the High Court’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Parliament of Ghana has been unable to declare the Kpandai seat vacant because, under the Court of Appeal rules, there is a statutory automatic 7-day stay of execution once a High Court ruling is appealed. This was highlighted by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in a Facebook post.
Since Matthew Nyindam has appealed the case to the Supreme Court, the Kpandai seat can’t be declared vacant until the Supreme Court concludes the matter. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Reactions from Political Actors
The NDC has welcomed the ruling, saying it exposed “crooked electoral officers” and vindicated calls for electoral accountability.
By contrast, the NPP has condemned the decision. They argue that only 41 out of 152 polling stations were challenged, making a complete rerun of the entire constituency inconsistent and an affront to voters’ will.
Conclusion
The High Court’s ruling to annul the entire parliamentary result and order a rerun has sparked sharp political disagreement. As the case moves to the Supreme Court, the outcome will not only determine who represents Kpandai in Parliament but will also set a significant precedent for how electoral irregularities are addressed in Ghana’s democracy.
