A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters in Kumasi, known as the Concerned Traders of NPP, has rejected any attempt to present Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.
At a press conference on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, spokesperson Benjamin Ofori attributed the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections to unpopular government policies and what he called the selection of the “wrong candidate” in Dr. Bawumia.
He argued that expectations of Bawumia securing northern and Islamic votes were not met, as the NPP lost four out of five northern regions.
Even in Bawumia’s home region, the victory margin against former President John Mahama was significantly lower than in 2020, while Mahama secured a larger win in his own region.
The group also highlighted the party’s failure to win a single parliamentary seat in the Upper East and Upper West regions, stating that Bawumia’s candidacy did not attract enough support from Zongo and Christian voters.
Additionally, they pointed to the loss of 58 parliamentary seats nationwide and a 24% decline in votes in the Ashanti Region, the party’s stronghold.
Ofori dismissed comparisons to President Akufo-Addo’s past election defeats, noting that Akufo-Addo maintained higher vote percentages in 2008 and 2012 than Bawumia’s 38.40% in 2024.
Warning against another Bawumia candidacy, the group claimed it could keep the NPP in opposition for at least 12 years.
They urged party members to resist any attempt to impose him as the 2028 flagbearer and called for a thorough review of the 2024 election results to select a stronger candidate.
The NPP leadership has yet to respond to the concerns raised.