Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has clarified that the Kpandai Member of Parliament, Matthew Nyindam, remains an active Member of Parliament (MP) despite the Tamale High Court’s annulment of the 2024 parliamentary election results for the constituency.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, November 26, Speaker Bagbin explained that, under Court of Appeal rules, once a notice of appeal is filed, it automatically stays the High Court’s decision for seven days.

He noted that since the ruling was delivered on November 24, 2025, the stay remains in force until December 1, 2025.

“During this period, the High Court ruling cannot form the basis for the Speaker to instruct the Clerk to notify the Electoral Commission that the Kpandai seat is vacant,” he said.

The Speaker further noted that if Mr. Nyindam exercises his right of appeal, including through an application under Rule 27(1) of C.I. 19, a further suspension may be imposed on the enforcement of the High Court judgment until the appeal is resolved.

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He stated that it is premature to declare Mr. Nyindam disqualified from entering and participating in parliamentary business until the mandatory seven-day stay expires.

“Honourable Members, this is not a declaratory order; it is an executive order delivered by the High Court,” Speaker Bagbin said, affirming that Mr. Nyindam was right to participate in House proceedings.

Background

The Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, annulled the December 7, 2024, parliamentary election in Kpandai following a petition filed by NDC candidate Daniel Nsala Wakpal.

The petition alleged serious irregularities, particularly inconsistencies in Form 8A (“pink sheets”) from 41 out of 152 polling stations, which, according to the petitioner, violated Regulations 39 and 43 of the Public Elections Regulations (CI 127).

The court ruled that these breaches materially affected the integrity of the vote and ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct a rerun of the parliamentary election in the entire constituency.