BY Daniel Bampoe
Former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on party delegates to maintain him as the NPP flagbearer, asserting that he is the most prepared and winnable candidate to lead the party back to power.
Speaking at a constituency engagement in Adansi Asokwa on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Dr. Bawumia framed his appeal within the lessons of Ghana’s electoral history, arguing that consistency in candidate selection is key to electoral success.
Dr. Bawumia drew on precedents from both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) since the advent of the Fourth Republic.
He cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who lost in 1996 but won in 2000 after being presented again, and the late President John Evans Atta Mills, who secured 43 percent in 2000, 44 percent in 2004, and eventually won in 2008.
Similarly, former President Nana Akufo-Addo lost presidential elections in 2008 and 2012 but secured victory in 2016, while former President John Mahama lost in 2016 and 2020 but won in 2024 when retained as candidate.
“This clearly shows that maintaining faith with a candidate pays off,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The former Vice President argued that he is uniquely positioned for victory in 2028 due to his preparation, visibility, and political experience.
“I am the most marketed, most prepared, and most winnable candidate among all the aspirants. My character, temperament, and unifying nature are well known. I urge you to vote for me on January 31, 2026, to secure the gains of consistency,” he told delegates.
Dr. Bawumia also sought to address criticisms about his performance in Zongo communities during the 2024 elections.
Some critics within the NPP had claimed that he underperformed in Muslim-majority areas, potentially contributing to the party’s loss to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under John Mahama.
Dr. Bawumia dismissed such narratives as unfounded and “propaganda.”
He challenged critics to provide data supporting the claims that he failed to win Zongo votes or secured only one polling station nationwide.
“If you tell me something, I need data to prove whether it’s true,” he said.
Historical records, he stressed, show that NPP candidates, including Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo, have consistently faced challenges in Zongo constituencies.
He urged party members to focus on unity and discipline ahead of the 2028 elections rather than succumbing to divisive narratives.
The Adansi Asokwa engagement marked the beginning of a three-day regional tour in the Ashanti Region aimed at strengthening grassroots support and directly engaging with polling station delegates.
Campaign officials explained that the visits are part of a broader nationwide strategy to consolidate support ahead of the NPP’s internal flagbearer contest.
However, as the party prepares for the 2026 internal elections, Dr. Bawumia’s statements signal a dual strategy: reinforcing his record and experience while countering internal criticism, positioning himself as the candidate best equipped to lead the NPP to victory in 2028.
