Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, has told the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that unity is the lifeblood of our party and disunity is its slow poison.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the NPP has historically lost elections whenever disunity crept into its ranks, regardless of its message or leadership.
Afenyo-Markin told NPP members to rally behind the party’s chosen flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to secure victory in the 2028 general elections.
He further cautioned against a repeat of the 2024 elections, citing what he described as “skirt and blouse” voting, which contributed to the party’s defeat.
Afenyo-Marlin traced the party’s electoral fortunes within the Danquah-Busia tradition in 1979, which saw the emergence of the UNC and PFP, paving the way for the PNP under Hilla Limann to win power, adding that electoral losses in 1992, 1996, 2008, and 2012 were also due to a lack of cohesion.
Speaking at a convention of key NPP stakeholders in the Effutu Constituency after the party’s flagbearer contest, Afenyo-Markin explained, “We have to learn from our history when we talk about unity. History has taught us harsh but clear lessons about disunity.
“When our ranks were divided, when factions spoke louder than unity, we lost painfully to the NDC. Each defeat carried a reminder: a divided NPP cannot win, no matter how noble our message is,” he said.
He recounted that the NPP’s victories in 2000, 2004, 2016, and 2020 are evidence of unity being key for electoral success.
The Minority leader added, “When our ranks were divided, when factions spoke louder than unity, we lost painfully to the NDC. Each defeat carried a reminder: a divided NPP cannot win, no matter how noble our message is”.
“But look at the other side of our history. When we stood together as one and rallied behind our leader despite our differences, victory stood with us. The formula for success is therefore clear: unity is the lifeblood of our party; disunity is its slow poison,” he stressed.
“We must not allow the 2024 result to repeat itself, no more ‘skirt and blouse’ voting. If Dr. Bawumia fails, it is we who have failed him. Let us not fail him. Let us work for him, work for the party, and work for our country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Bawumia, the newly elected NPP flagbearer, has told NPP members that in the 2024 elections, there was a clear difference between the NDC votes and the NPP votes, saying, “The NDC vote they didn’t get much more than they did in 2020, it is basically the same, the NPP votes basically collapsed 2.1 million less because our own people decided not to come out to vote so it an internal problem”.
So, fundamentally, if we solve that internal problem, you are on your way to victory, because if 2.1 million people had voted, we would have won. That’s it, I am going to be very open-minded, open-hearted and open-armed, I will bring everybody, even those who were insulting me, I am going to bring them all together”.
He further called on all party members to put aside differences and work together to win the 2028 elections.
Speaking after being officially declared the NPP flagbearer, Dr Bawumia stressed that the outcome of the election should mark the beginning of cooperation among party members.
He further appealed to delegates and supporters across the country to let go of any reservations they may have and unite behind the party’s vision.
Dr Bawumia stated, “Together we stand, divided we fall.”