By Daniel Bampoe
Parliament was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday, when the Minority Caucus mounted a fierce and sustained protest over what they describe as an “unconstitutional and politically engineered” attempt by Speaker Alban Bagbin to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election, despite the matter still pending before the courts.
The dramatic scenes, which unfolded during the consideration of budget estimates for Ministries, Departments and Agencies, effectively stalled government business and underscored growing tensions over the Speaker’s handling of the controversial Kpandai ruling.
Root Of The Controversy
The dispute traces back to 27th November 2025, when Speaker Bagbin delivered a firm ruling cautioning Parliament against acting on the Tamale High Court’s order for a rerun of the Kpandai election.
On record, the Speaker stated that: The High Court judgment could not be acted on immediately, a mandatory seven-day statutory stay of execution under Rule 27(3) of C.I. 19 must elapse, the Clerk to Parliament should take no action until the period expired and Matthew Nyindam remained the valid Member of Parliament until all legal processes were exhausted.
However, in what the Minority describes as an “astonishing U-turn,” the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, issued a formal notification to the EC on December 4, declaring the Kpandai seat vacant and ordering preparations for a by-election.
The letter, according to the Minority, was written under the Speaker’s direction—even though the appeal processes were still active, with a stay of execution before the High Court and a judicial review pending at the Supreme Court.
Protest
The Minority took to the floor in protest immediately after the letter’s content became known.
Dressed in black, they banged desks, chanted songs, hooted at proceedings, and formed a human barricade at the centre of the chamber.
The Minority blocked attempts by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga to deliver statements or proceed with business.
Despite calls for calm, the protests only intensified as MPs occupied the space in front of the Speaker’s dais.
Clashes
The confrontation intensified as Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga attempted to respond to calls for withdrawal of the letter.
Minority MPs repeatedly blocked him, forcing Speaker Bagbin to temporarily suspend the sitting to restore order.
Ayariga condemned the disruptions as deliberate attempts to derail parliamentary business.
“We will not be distracted by taunts and disruptions,” he stated, accusing the Minority of orchestrating noise and disorder to prevent the Speaker from delivering rulings.
He emphasized that the Kpandai seat dispute cannot be used as a pretext to paralyze Parliament.
In response, Annoh-Dompreh insisted that the Minority had no choice but to escalate protests to defend due process and procedural fairness.
“Until Kpandai is resolved, government business will suffer,” he warned, noting that the Majority’s attempts to proceed without resolving the controversy were tantamount to twisting the hands of Parliament.
A Chaotic Scene
Moments later, the Minority abandoned their seats and massed in the center of the chamber, triggering chaotic confrontations with Majority MPs.
Marshals intervened as tempers flared, lawmakers gesticulated angrily, and shouting engulfed the chamber.
Proceedings were temporarily halted as Speaker Bagbin struggled to restore order, marking one of the most turbulent sittings of the current parliamentary session.
Speaker Ignores Minority Calls
Rather than yielding to the Minority’s demands, the Speaker directed the House to continue approving budget estimates for various Ministries and Agencies after he resumed proceedings.
This triggered louder chants from the Minority, who accused the Speaker of: compromising his neutrality, disregarding parliamentary procedure and undermining judicial due process.
Despite the noise and disruptions, Clerk-at-the-Table proceeded with the reading of papers and motions, a move the Minority described as “a dangerous precedent that threatens parliamentary democracy.”
NPP Press Conference
Earlier in the day, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) addressed a press conference led by its National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye (Nana B), who condemned the Speaker’s directive and labeled it as “a clear abuse of office.”
Nana Boakye argued: “The Speaker’s U-turn is unconstitutional. He cannot contradict his own ruling and force a letter that undermines a matter that is actively before the courts. The Kpandai seat is not vacant. Nyindam remains the MP until the judicial process is completed.”
He further explained that the NPP’s legal directorate, led by Lawyer Gary Nimako, had filed a judicial review at the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the High Court’s decision. A stay of execution is also before the Tamale High Court, scheduled to be heard on December 10th.
Kpandai MP
Incumbent Kpandai MP, Matthew Nyindam, has maintained his innocence, insisting the election was not manipulated and accusing the government of seeking to overturn the will of the people.
Traditional authorities in Kpandai have also issued statements opposing the rerun. Chiefs, led by the Chief of Brajai, Nana Nkpajator, warned that another election could spark tension and disrupt peace in the area.
They appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to allow Nyindam to remain MP until the legal processes are concluded.
