The Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of the planned parliamentary election rerun in the Kpandai constituency, directing that all related legal processes be put on hold pending further determination.
The apex court also instructed the legal team of New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Matthew Nyindam, to serve court processes on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate through substituted service.
The orders were issued on Tuesday after the court heard an application filed by Nyindam, who is challenging a ruling by the Tamale High Court that annulled the December 7, 2024, parliamentary election in the constituency.
Following the hearing, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter to January 13, 2026, for further proceedings.
Challenge to High Court Jurisdiction
Nyindam, whose election victory is under dispute, is asking the Supreme Court to review and quash the High Court’s judgment. He argues that the court wrongly assumed jurisdiction in the election petition and acted outside its legal mandate.
According to him, the election petition filed at the High Court was invalid from the outset, rendering all proceedings arising from it null and void. He contends that the High Court committed fundamental legal errors, warranting the Supreme Court’s intervention through judicial review.
Background to the Dispute
The election petition was initiated by the NDC parliamentary candidate, Daniel Nsala Wakpal, who challenged the outcome of the 2024 parliamentary polls in Kpandai.
Following the High Court’s decision to annul the election, the NPP applied for a stay of execution, seeking to prevent the Electoral Commission and the NDC from enforcing the ruling. This included a request to halt preparations for a rerun until the Supreme Court determines the substantive issues raised in the case.
Effect of the Supreme Court’s Order
The Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the rerun effectively preserves the status quo, ensuring that no further steps are taken to implement the High Court’s ruling while the apex court considers the merits of the application.
The case is expected to return to court in January 2026, where the justices will further examine the jurisdictional and procedural questions surrounding the disputed Kpandai parliamentary election.
