The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that it is premature to disqualify the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kpandai, Matthew Nyindam, from participating in parliamentary business despite the Tamale High Court’s annulment of the 2024 parliamentary election results for the constituency.
He said the MP remained an active member of the House and was right to participate in House proceedings.
Giving his directives on a request by the Majority Caucus to declare the Kpandai seat vacant, Mr Bagbin explained that under Court of Appeal rules, once a notice of appeal was 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.
Mr Bagbin explained further 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.
Context
At last Wednesday’s sitting, the Majority Caucus requested the Speaker to declare the Kpandai seat vacant and the sitting MP, Matthew Nyindam, a persona non grata and to march him out of the Chamber.
Matthew Nyindam — MP for Kpandai
But the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, prayed the Speaker to reject the Majority’s request.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who was presiding, told the House that he had received notification from Mr Bagbin that the issue be put on hold until he himself resumed the chair.
Majority
The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, said based on the ruling by the Tamale High Court, which had been duly served on Parliament, Mr Nyindam must be barred from participating in businesses in the plenary.
The argument erupted when Mr Nyindam, whose election had been annulled by the Tamale High Court on November 24, this year, was due to contribute to the debate on the 2026 budget statement on the floor last Wednesday, but the Majority objected to his contribution on the grounds that he was no longer a member of the House.
Don’t extend courtesies
He said Parliament, having been duly served, had a duty under the law to ensure that the House no longer extended courtesies to Mr Nyindam.
He recalled that when the NDC Assin South MP, James Gyakye Quayson, was ordered by the Cape Coast High Court to go through a re-run of his election, Majority NPP members, then led by Mr Afenyo-Markin, spoke vociferously and maintained that Mr Quayson could not be entertained in the House.
Eventually, he said Mr Quayson had to leave the House, saying that “this is a path that we have travelled”.
“Precedent has been laid and set and so nobody can urge on this House today that Mr Nyindam must have a voice today.
“It would not happen since the orders of the High Court are directed at Parliament, as well as the Electoral Commission, to order a re-run of the election within 30 days,” he said.
Reject request
Reacting, Mr Afenyo-Markin challenged Mr Dafeamekpor’s claim that he argued for the Speaker to march Mr Quayson out of the Chamber when his case came up.
He said that, as Leader of the House, he had never advocated that Mr Quayson, having lost a High Court case, should be marched out of the Chamber.
He explained that after the Cape Coast High Court ruling, Mr Quayson filed an appeal and a stay of execution.
Based on that, the House never denied him his right of entry and his right to be heard, he said.
