Kpandai MP Mathew Nyindam returned to Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, following a Supreme Court ruling that reversed a lower court judgment which had removed him from office.

He took his seat alongside other legislators when the House reconvened for the second session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, ending months of uncertainty over his status as a Member of Parliament.

Mr Nyindam joined fellow lawmakers in honouring the late Ayawaso East MP, Nasser Toure Mahama, describing him as a figure who brought people together and transcended party lines.

“Alhaji was not excessively partisan; he treated everyone as a brother,” he said. “He was not loud and did not speak often, but when he did, his words carried wisdom. He was calm, gentle and affable.”

A Supreme Court ruling delivered on January 28 has cleared the way for Kpandai MP Mathew Nyindam to return to Parliament, after the apex court overturned a decision by the Tamale High Court that had nullified his election and ordered a rerun in the Kpandai Constituency of the Northern Region.

In a 4–1 majority decision, the court granted an application for certiorari filed by Mr Nyindam, holding that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction in setting aside the parliamentary election. Justices Yonny Kulendi, Amadu Tanko, Samuel Asiedu and Henry Kwofie formed the majority.

Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who presided over the panel as its President, dissented from the decision. The Supreme Court is expected to publish its detailed reasons on February 6, 2026.

The ruling effectively halted preparations by the Electoral Commission for a rerun election, allowing Mr Nyindam to reclaim his seat in Parliament.

The legal dispute dates back to November 24, 2025, when the Tamale High Court annulled Mr Nyindam’s election and directed that a fresh poll be held within 30 days. Following that ruling, Parliament officially declared the seat vacant.

In a letter dated December 4, 2025, the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, informed the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa, that the court’s decision required the conduct of a rerun election.

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.”

This will be the second time the country will witness a rerun 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 rerun 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 rerun 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 rerun election

At the Odorkor Methodist 1 polling station in the Ablekuma North constituency, some individuals engaged in a fisticuff with the 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 rerun 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 said 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 rerun.

"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," she added.