Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has vowed to challenge the Tamale High Court’s decision annulling the 2024 parliamentary election in Kpandai Constituency, describing the ruling as flawed and an affront to democratic legitimacy.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, November 26, Mr Afenyo-Markin reassured the Kpandai constituents that their Member of Parliament, Matthew Nyindam, remains the sitting MP and a fully active member of both Parliament and the Minority caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“No person, no institution, and certainly no flawed judicial order can suspend the mandate you freely and lawfully conferred upon him.

"Unless and until the appellate process, properly invoked and fully exhausted, runs its lawful course, he will continue to serve you with dedication and dignity,” he said.

The Minority Leader stated that the party would lawfully resist any attempt to bar Mr Nyindam from representing his constituents, whether such attempts are "subtle or brazen."

• Read also: Afenyo-Markin slams judiciary, says judges are serving ‘paymasters’ after Kpandai election annulment

“Let me state, this emphatically and without equivocation: the minority will lawfully resist any attempt, whether subtle or brazen, to bar him from representing his people.

"We will not permit democratic legitimacy to be overturned by judicial improvisation,” Mr Afenyo-Markin added.

Mr Afenyo-Markin had earlier criticised the judiciary over the manner in which the ruling was delivered. He described it as “shameful” and accused the courts of serving the interests of political actors.

“This order, with massive political, legal, and democratic consequences, was pronounced without a full written judgment.

"There were no written reasons, no factual findings, no legal analysis, just a naked directive issued into the public domain,” he said.

He also alleged that the NDC was aware of the judgment before it was read in open court, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the process.

Background

The Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, has annulled the 2024 parliamentary election results for the Kpandai constituency and ordered a fresh poll within 30 days, following a successful legal challenge.

The petition was filed by National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Daniel Nsala Wakpal, who claimed that the December 7, 2024, election was tainted by serious irregularities.

• Read also: High Court nullifies Kpandai 2024 parliamentary election, orders fresh poll in 30 days

He alleged inconsistencies in Form 8A (the “pink sheet”) from 41 polling stations out of the total 152, arguing that these breaches violated Regulations 39 and 43 of the Public Elections Regulations (CI 127).

In its ruling, the court agreed that non‑compliance with electoral regulations materially affected the integrity of the vote. It has accordingly ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a rerun of the parliamentary election in the entire constituency.