The candidate at the centre of the Kpandai election challenge, Matthew Nyindam, has disclosed that the 2024 Parliamentary election in the area was conducted under a free and fair process.

Despite the High Court directing a re-run of the election, Matthew Nyindam insisted that he and his team did not engage in any wrongdoing and are prepared to face the re-run.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, December 9, he noted, “I am so fine because I am not troubled. We’ve not cheated in this particular election. What I’ve realised is that there is a government that is so strong and whatever they want to do, they will want to do it. They don’t care whether you are right or you are wrong.”

Matthew Nyindam’s statement comes as the Parliamentary Service has formally notified the Electoral Commission (EC) of the High Court’s annulment of the Kpandai Parliamentary elections.

The Tamale High Court declared the Kpandai parliamentary election conducted in 2024 invalid on Monday, November 24. As a result, His Lordship Emmanuel Brew Plange has directed the Electoral Commission (EC) to perform a new poll in the constituency within 30 days.

Earlier this year, the former Member of Parliament (MP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Kpandai, Daniel Nsala Wakpal, submitted a petition to the Tamale High Court challenging the results of the 2024 parliamentary election in the constituency.

According to the petitioner, the Kpandai parliamentary election was marred by irregularities in the voting and collation processes. He argued that Pink Sheets from many polling stations were not accurate or consistent.

He stated: “The parliamentary election held in the Kpandai constituency on 7th December 2024 was not conducted in compliance with Regulations 39 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (CI 127) and the principles laid down by Regulations 39, and that the said non-compliance affected the results of the elections.

“The declaration and publication of the parliamentary election results held in the Kpandai constituency on 7th December 2024 were not made in compliance with Regulations 43 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I 127) and the principles laid down by Regulations 43, and that the said non-compliance affected the entire results of the parliamentary elections in the Kpandai constituency.”

But Matthew Nyindam has argued that, “The Parliamentary Election Petition filed by the 1st Interested Party on 25th January 2025, in respect of the Parliamentary Election held at the Kpandai Constituency on 7th December 2024, was invalid and could not have properly invoked the jurisdiction of the High Court, Commercial Division, Tamale.”

This will be the second time the country has had a re-run of elections after the 2024 general polls. Ablekuma North had remained the only constituency in Ghana without a sitting MP due to unresolved disagreements over the outcome of the parliamentary vote.

In view of this, the Electoral Commission on Friday, July 11, held a re-run election in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North to provide constituents with a representative. Ewurabena Aubynn polled 34,090 votes to beat the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Akua Afriyie, who secured 33,881 votes.

On December 10, 2024, three days after the national polls, the EC declared Ewurabena Aubynn of the NDC the winner of the Ablekuma North parliamentary seat, defeating the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh. However, the EC later revoked the announcement, revealing that results from 62 of the 281 polling stations had not been included in the initial collation.

Efforts to restart the collation in January 2025 were disrupted by multiple challenges. These included interruptions due to the submission of unverified Pink Sheets and a violent intrusion at the collation centre that heightened security concerns.

After extensive deliberations, the Electoral Commission in July announced that it would hold a re-run election because the 19 scanned polling station results used for the collation, though approved by agents of both political parties, were not verified by the presiding officers responsible for those polling stations. The EC arrived at this decision after meeting with representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, July 1.

Violence mars Ablekuma North re-run election

At the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency, some individuals engaged in a fisticuff with police personnel. Also, a JoyNews journalist was slapped by an unknown individual.

Former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Ewutu Senya East Constituency, Hawa Koomson, was also assaulted by a group of men. A journalist with GH One Television, Banahene Agyekum, was also slapped by a police officer.

The Ghana Police Service has interdicted one of its officers who was caught on camera slapping a journalist with GH One Television, Banahene Agyekum, during the re-run election at Ablekuma North. In line with internal disciplinary procedures, he has been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation. The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North.

The police have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter and further updates will be communicated. It is unknown what exactly transpired between the reporter and a group of police officers that led to him being slapped. The police officer's action has been condemned by all, including the mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, who witnessed the unfortunate incident.

Deputy Minister for Government Communications, Shamima Muslim, in reaction to the incident, commended the police for its swift action to reprimand its officer for such unlawful acts and condemned the recent attacks against civilians and journalists during the Ablekuma North election re-run. She said: “What we are happy about is the swift action that the Ghana Police itself has taken in interdicting the officer in question. It is completely unwarranted. Government itself takes a very serious stance, especially on security agencies meting out unwarranted attacks to civilians under any circumstances.”

President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, also condemned the attack on journalists. Due to the chaos that erupted, Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno visited some polling stations in the constituency.

The Minority in Parliament has also condemned the violence that took place during the just-ended Ablekuma North re-run election, accusing members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of instigating violent activities.

In a statement signed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the caucus said: “The most disturbing aspect of today’s violence is not just the brutality itself, but the deliberate endorsement and celebration of these attacks by senior government officials. For example, Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw, National Women’s Organiser of the NDC and CEO of the Minerals Development Fund, provided perhaps the most damaging response with her statement that ‘violence begets violence’ and her suggestion that the brutal attacks were somehow justified.

“Even more shocking is the Facebook post by Malik Basintale, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC, who apparently celebrated the man who attacked Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson with the disturbing declaration, ‘From today, I name him the Flying Python. He shall be in charge of the 5k Airforce!’ This grotesque celebration of violence against a former Member of Parliament represents a new low in Ghana’s political discourse,” the statement added.

The Minority has registered its displeasure with the operation of the Ghana Police Service at the polling stations. “The Ghana Police Service’s response raises serious questions about their preparedness and commitment to protecting our electoral process. Security personnel were overwhelmed by the perpetrators, failing to prevent these attacks on political figures, party agents, and journalists. More concerning are allegations surrounding Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu and his potential role in facilitating these disruptions.”

The caucus stressed the need for increased protection for voters, electoral officers, journalists, and candidates. It also called on the international community, civil society, and media to monitor developments closely.