By Nelson Ayivor
The Supreme Court has quashed the Tamale High Court ruling that nullified the parliamentary election results for the Kpandai Constituency, bringing finality to a legal dispute that had cast uncertainty over representation in the area.
In a majority decision of four to one delivered on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the apex court quashed the judgment of the Tamale High Court and halted plans for a parliamentary rerun. The Supreme Court held that the High Court in Tamale lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the election petition that led to the annulment of the results.
According to the court, the petition filed by the defeated National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate was submitted outside the strict statutory time frame prescribed by law. As a result, the proceedings and the orders flowing from them were deemed invalid.
The decision followed a judicial review application filed by Lawyer Gary Nimako, Director of Legal Affairs for the New Patriotic Party. In his application, he argued that the High Court acted without legal authority by hearing a petition that was time barred under Ghana’s electoral laws.
The Supreme Court agreed with this position, emphasizing that compliance with statutory timelines in election petitions is not a procedural technicality but a substantive legal requirement.
By setting aside the High Court ruling, the Supreme Court has effectively cancelled the proposed rerun of the parliamentary election in the Kpandai Constituency. This outcome affirms the election of the New Patriotic Party’s candidate, Mathew Nyindam, as the duly elected Member of Parliament for the constituency.
The ruling restores his mandate and brings an end to months of political and legal uncertainty in the area. In delivering its decision, the court stressed the importance of jurisdiction in election-related disputes.
The justices underscored that courts must satisfy themselves that all legal conditions have been met before assuming authority over such sensitive matters. Failure to adhere to these conditions, the court noted, renders any subsequent decision void, regardless of the merits of the case.
The panel that determined the matter was composed of Justices Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Amadu Omoro Tanko, Yonny Kulendi, Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, and Henry Kwoffie.
Although the majority decision was announced, the court indicated that its full reasoned judgment would be made available on 6 February 2026. The detailed ruling is expected to provide further legal clarity on the issues of jurisdiction and statutory time limits in election petitions.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has been widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of established electoral jurisprudence, particularly the strict application of timelines in post election disputes. The decision reinforces predictability in the electoral process by ensuring that election outcomes are not unsettled indefinitely through late filings.
Following the ruling, Mathew Nyindam expressed gratitude to his supporters and reflected on the significance of the decision for the people of Kpandai. He acknowledged the backing he received from the New Patriotic Party at all levels, from the national leadership to polling station agents, describing their support as instrumental throughout the legal process.
He also thanked the electorate in Kpandai, noting that the court’s decision validated the choice they made at the polls. According to him, the mood in the constituency reflected relief and satisfaction, as residents looked forward to stable representation in Parliament. He said the people had placed their trust in him and expected him to serve diligently throughout his four year mandate.
The Kpandai legislator further expressed appreciation to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his personal and political support during the period of uncertainty. He described the encouragement he received as a source of strength and expressed goodwill toward the former Vice President’s future aspirations in national leadership.
The legal challenge to the Kpandai parliamentary results had generated significant political tension, particularly after the High Court ordered a rerun. That decision had raised concerns about voter fatigue and administrative costs associated with conducting another election in the constituency. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, those concerns have now been laid to rest.
For residents of Kpandai, the judgment brings closure and allows attention to shift from litigation to governance and development. For the wider political community, the ruling serves as a reminder of the binding nature of electoral laws and the limits of judicial intervention when statutory requirements are not met.
As the country awaits the full written judgment, the Supreme Court’s decision stands as the final word on the matter, confirming Mathew Nyindam as Member of Parliament for Kpandai and reaffirming the principle that election petitions must strictly comply with the law.