More than 110 parliamentary candidates from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have publicly declared support for former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a development that has sparked sharp rebuttals from rival camps within the party.
Responding to claims that the endorsements weaken the campaign of flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong, his spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, dismissed the suggestion, arguing that the show of support instead exposes vulnerabilities in Dr Bawumia’s campaign.
Kwarteng said the endorsements fall far short of the backing Dr Bawumia once enjoyed while in government, noting that nearly 137 Members of Parliament, about 6,000 government appointees and all 276 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives previously aligned with him.
“If the campaign were truly strong, it would not rely on what we see as cosmetic showmanship,” Kwarteng said, describing the current declarations as unimpressive.
The endorsements come amid post-election manoeuvring within the NPP following the 2024 general elections, as party figures position themselves ahead of internal contests.
Dr Bawumia’s supporters maintain that the declarations reflect confidence in his leadership, while critics argue they underscore shifting loyalties within the party’s ranks.