The newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said he would be open-hearted and open-armed to everybody, even those who insulted him during the NPP primaries.
Dr Bawumia pledged a reconciliatory and inclusive approach following his victory.
According to Dr Bawumia, the NPP winning the 2028 general elections lies in resolving internal party challenges.
Speaking to supporters and party executives at his residence in Tse Addo, Accra, on Monday, January 2, Dr. Bawumia stated, “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”.
Dr Bawumia further revealed he is happier about his performance in the party’s 2026 presidential primaries than in 2023.
Dr Bawumia detailed that the whole country spoke for him, and looking at the data, his 2026 result is superior to 2023 qualitatively.
The NPP flagbearer highlighted that in Greater Accra, he won 32 out of 34 constituencies, but in 2023, he won 19 and further cited the 100 per cent win in some other constituencies across the country.
He added, “The whole country spoke, frankly, I am happier about these results than I was in 2023. If you look at the data, this is a superior result than 2023 qualitatively because we have won more constituecies that we did the last time.
100 per cent in Western North, so many places, Bono, Ahafo, Bono East, 100 per cent of all those seats. Ashanti 45 out of 47 massively, in Greater Accra 32 out of 34. In 2023, I won 19 and this time 32”.
Dr Bawumia further added, “Going round the country, I was very expectant looking at how we were being received across the country, but actually had it manifest yesterday was something to uphold.
So, the responsibility has been placed on us, and we have to deliver and to expect nothing short of victory in 2028. A lot of confidence has been repose on me, and we have to deliver the victory from now to 2028; we have three years to do it”.
Also, 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.
Watch the video below:
Frankly, I am happier about this results than I was in 2023.” – Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia pic.twitter.com/9jBfFwUGUV
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) February 1, 2026