Speaking in a video that has since circulated widely, Hammond said he was surprised and disappointed by attempts to move forward with the rerun when the case is already before the country’s highest court.
According to him, legal processes have been activated to stop any electoral action until the Supreme Court interprets the law and determines whether the Electoral Commission (EC) acted within its mandate.
“I am shocked by what is happening,” Hammond said. “This issue has been sent to the Supreme Court for interpretation, and there is a stay of execution that has been initiated at the Tamale High Court. Nothing should move forward until the court speaks.”
Hammond questioned the legitimacy of the legal challenge brought by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the party failed to meet the constitutional deadline for filing an election petition.
He explained that election laws are clear on timelines and that any party dissatisfied with election results has 21 days to lodge a complaint.
“In the Kpandai matter, the time allowed by law had already passed before the case was filed,” Hammond stated. “Once that period expires, the case loses credibility.”
To strengthen his argument, Hammond referred to his own political experience, recalling a time when he lost a parliamentary seat and attempted to challenge the outcome.
“When I lost the Adansi Asokwa seat, my petition was dismissed because it was filed late, even though it was only a few hours outside the deadline,” he recalled. “If the law was applied strictly to me, then it must be applied the same way here.”
He stressed that based on this precedent, the NDC’s case in Kpandai should not stand, and therefore cannot be used as the basis for ordering a rerun.
Hammond assured supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the party has taken the necessary legal steps and remains confident that the Supreme Court will provide clarity.
“There will be no rerun until the Supreme Court hears the case and makes a final determination,” he said firmly.
He also criticized the NDC’s approach, accusing the party of engaging in unnecessary political maneuvering, despite holding a strong position in Parliament.
“Even with their large numbers in Parliament, they are still engaging in tactics aimed at reducing the NPP’s seats,” Hammond alleged. “This is not about fairness; it is about politics.”
The controversy stems from the Electoral Commission’s decision to order a rerun of the parliamentary election in Kpandai following disputes surrounding the 2024 general election results.
The EC cited irregularities at some polling stations as the reason for its decision, a move that was immediately contested by the NPP.
In response, the NPP filed applications at the Tamale High Court and later escalated the issue to the Supreme Court, seeking an interpretation of the EC’s constitutional powers and a halt to the rerun until the legal questions are resolved.