Minority criticizes Tamale High Court Judge Justice Brew Plange over Kpandai election ruling

The Minority in Parliament has expressed strong disapproval of Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange of the Tamale High Court, accusing him of judicial overreach in the handling of the Kpandai parliamentary election petition.

On Monday, November 24, 2025, Justice Brew Plange nullified the results of the December 7, 2024, Kpandai election, directing the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct a rerun within 30 days.

The petition was filed by Daniel Nsala Wakpal, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, citing significant procedural irregularities. He pointed to discrepancies in Form 8A ("pink sheets") at 41 of the 152 polling stations, which he argued violated Regulations 39 and 43 of CI 127 (Public Elections Regulations). The court ruled that these breaches substantially undermined the integrity of the election, necessitating a full rerun.

In response, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin told journalists on Wednesday, November 26, that the caucus would challenge any attempt to remove sitting MP Matthew Nyindam before all legal avenues are exhausted.

“The judgment can only be described as breathtaking in its reach and alarming in its implications. Justice Brew Plange has ordered a complete rerun of the Kpandai election. This is not a routine judicial intervention; it is deeply troubling,” Afenyo-Markin said.

“For a judge to void an entire constituency’s election without first preparing and publishing a comprehensive, reasoned judgment is not only irregular—it is judicial irresponsibility of the highest order.”

As the rerun unfolds, stakeholders—including the EC, political parties, and judiciary—face the challenge of ensuring the process is conducted fairly, transparently, and without controversy, setting a precedent for future electoral disputes in Ghana.