The Minority in Parliament has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a letter issued by the Clerk to Parliament to the Electoral Commission (EC) declaring the Kpandai parliamentary seat vacant, insisting the communication was unconstitutional despite the lapse of the statutory seven-day stay following the High Court ruling.
The demand follows a protest by Minority MPs on the floor of the House, where they dressed in black attire and chanted to register their objection to what they described as a dangerous precedent that undermines parliamentary authority and due process.
The controversy stems from a High Court judgment that annulled the 2024 parliamentary election in Kpandai, set aside the election of Matthew Nyindam, and directed the EC to conduct a rerun within 30 days.
Under established legal practice, the ruling was subject to an automatic seven-day stay to allow for an appeal.
Parliamentary sources indicate that no appeal was filed within the stipulated period.
On that basis, the Clerk to Parliament issued a formal letter to the EC after the seven days had elapsed, informing the Commission that the Kpandai seat had become vacant and inviting it to take steps to comply with the court’s order for a fresh election.
The Minority, however, argues that even though the seven-day stay has expired, the Clerk lacks the constitutional authority to declare or communicate a vacancy in a parliamentary seat.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
