A fresh wave of political tension swept through Parliament on Thursday as Speaker Alban Bagbin pushed back against Majority demands to immediately declare the Kpandai seat vacant following a High Court decision annulling the 2024 parliamentary results.
The court had ordered a rerun within 30 days, prompting the Majority caucus to insist that the sitting MP, Matthew Nyindam, must cease participating in parliamentary business. But the Speaker’s ruling has effectively halted that move—at least for now.
Bagbin ruled that Parliament cannot take any action until the mandatory seven-day statutory stay of execution on High Court decisions elapses, a legal safeguard designed to allow parties time to consider an appeal.
His position has deepened the political divide.
The Majority, citing the precedent of former Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson, argued that Nyindam should be barred immediately. Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor insisted that the Kpandai seat should already be treated as vacant and that the Clerk should formally notify the Electoral Commission.
But the Minority fiercely rejected this stance, accusing the Majority of attempting to railroad due process. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said his side would resist “any premature and unlawful action” against their colleague until all legal procedures—including potential appeals—are fully resolved.
Bagbin’s ruling effectively shields Nyindam from immediate removal, allowing him to continue participating in the House despite the High Court decision.
The Speaker emphasised that the ruling against Nyindam is an executory order, not a declaratory one, and therefore cannot take effect while the statutory stay remains active. He further reminded MPs that the stay expires on December 1, 2025, and could last longer if Nyindam pursues an appeal.
The legal explanation aside, the issue has evolved into a test of political strength and parliamentary interpretation between the two caucuses.
With both sides now digging in, the coming days are likely to see heightened confrontation as the expiration of the stay approaches. For now, however, Bagbin’s ruling stands—leaving the Kpandai seat in limbo and tensions at the heart of Parliament unresolved.
