Supreme Court Overturns Tamale High Court Ruling on Kpandai Parliament Election
- The Supreme Court has overturned the Tamale High Court ruling that annulled Matthew Nyindam’s 2024 parliamentary election victory
- The court granted Nyindam’s certiorari application in a 4–1 majority decision
- Presiding judge Gabriel Scott Pwamang dissented, while four other justices ruled in favour of Nyindam
The Supreme Court has quashed the Tamale High Court ruling that annulled the 2024 parliamentary election won by the New Patriotic Party's Matthew Nyindam.
This comes after the apex court, by a 4–1 majority decision, granted the certiorari application filed by Matthew Nyindam.
Source: Facebook
Amadu-Omoro Tanko, Yonny Kulendi, Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, and Henry Kwoffie JJSC reportedly ruled in favour of the application, while Gabriel Scott Pwamang, the presiding judge, dissented.
Per this ruling, the proposed parliamentary election rerun in Kpandai will not take place, meaning that the Supreme Court’s verdict effectively upholds the election of the Matthew Nyindam as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
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Matthew Nyindam's arguments
Matthew filed the application after the Tamale High Court ordered a rerun of the 2024 parliamentary election in the Kpandai Constituency.
He asked the Apex Court to exercise its supervisory jurisdiction to set aside the High Court’s ruling on grounds of a jurisdictional error.
The certiorari application centres on the single issue of when the Electoral Commission (EC) gazetted the results of the 2024 parliamentary election for the Kpandai Constituency.
Under electoral laws of Ghana, an election petition must be filed within 21 days of the gazette notification of results.
If the petition is filed outside that period, the court lacks jurisdiction to consider it.
However, the NDC, which was represented in the election by Daniel Nsala Wakpal, argued that the 2024 parliamentary elections presented a special situation.
According to them, the EC issued two separate gazette notices in respect of the parliamentary results, one on December 24, 2024, and another on January 6, 2025.
Despite forcefully arguing this point, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the NPP's Matthew Nyindam.
Speaking after the court delivered its verdict, Matthew Nyindam expressed his gratitude to the judges for upholding his application.
"Kpandai rerun quashed: I thank the Supreme Court judges for their ruling because it's clear that some people were seeking to overturn the will of the people of Kpandai," he said.
Meanwhile, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafamekpor, told reporters that the party will review the court's decision to decide on its next course of action.
Source: Facebook
High Court dismisses Suhum election petition
In a related development, YEN.com,gh reported that the Koforidua High Court dismissed the election petition against Suhum MP, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, affirming his victory as valid and lawful.
The petition, filed by former MP Kwadjo Asante, was rejected for lacking credible evidence of electoral irregularities.
The court also awarded GH¢200,000 in costs against Asante, who contested the election as an independent candidate after defecting from the NPP.
Source: YEN.com.gh
