Chaos erupts in Parliament as Majority and Minority Clash over Kpandai seat dispute

Parliament witnessed scenes of chaos on Wednesday after disagreements between the Majority and Minority caucuses spiraled into a near-physical confrontation on the floor of the House.

The uproar began moments after Speaker Alban Bagbin deferred his ruling on the controversial Kpandai parliamentary seat, whose vacancy remains the subject of a heated legal and political dispute. The Minority insisted that the House should immediately adjourn until the matter was conclusively settled.

Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh strongly argued that no government business should proceed, stressing that allowing the session to continue without resolving the Kpandai issue amounted to undermining due parliamentary process.

But the Speaker, after a voice vote, directed that proceedings should continue as scheduled. His ruling was met with fierce resistance, triggering spontaneous chants, boos, and protests from the Minority side.

In a dramatic escalation, Minority MPs—many dressed in black to signify their discontent—rose from their seats and advanced toward the Speaker’s podium. A number of Majority MPs surged forward as well, converging in the centre aisle and creating a tense face-off between the two sides. The chamber erupted into loud, competing chants as tempers flared.

Speaker Bagbin repeatedly called for order, striking his gavel several times as parliamentary marshals rushed in to restore calm. The marshals formed a human barrier to prevent the confrontation from escalating further.

Despite the disorder, the Speaker stood his ground and pressed on with the day’s agenda, insisting that Parliament must continue with government business.

The confrontation followed earlier disagreements when the Minority blocked Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga from responding to calls for the withdrawal of a letter issued by the Clerk of Parliament. The letter, dated December 4, 2025, and addressed to Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa, declared the Kpandai seat vacant in accordance with a High Court ruling that ordered a rerun of the election.

The Minority maintains that the Clerk acted prematurely and without full parliamentary concurrence, insisting that due process must be followed before any declaration of vacancy is effected.

The impasse over the Kpandai seat continues to heighten tensions in a closely divided Parliament, raising concerns about the stability of legislative proceedings as the House enters a crucial phase of government business.