The Acting Director of Elections and IT for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Gibril, has claimed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary was effectively a “vote of no confidence” in the winner, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Despite celebrations within the ruling party following Dr. Bawumia’s victory, Gibril argued during an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM that the outcome suggests a lack of confidence in their 2028 candidate. He opined that the final figures and percentages indicate that Dr. Bawumia lacks firm control over the party.
According to certified results released by the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Bawumia secured 110,643 votes, representing 56.48% of the total valid ballots. Over 196,000 delegates participated across 333 polling centers nationwide. Out of the 196,462 total votes cast, 561 were rejected.
Mahdi Gibril pointed out that if Dr. Bawumia were as popular as party leaders claimed, he should have secured at least 70% of the vote.
He noted that dropping from the 61% Bawumia received in the 2023 preliminary stages shows a decline in his standing among the delegates.
Gibril emphasised that the performance was an indictment of Dr. Bawumia’s leadership:
“The outcome of the NPP’s presidential primary was a referendum and a vote of no confidence in a failed candidate. Dr. Bawumia and his campaign team, with support from the General Secretary and other leaders, campaigned on ‘aka 9 pe’ [only 9% left], and yet the delegates felt he was a failure.”
He further explained the political standard for leadership:”Traditionally, for a flagbearer to have control over the delegates and the party, you need about 70 percent to truly lead. In the last elections, he had 61 percent and needed just 9 percent more based on their own campaign message. He could not secure that 9 percent. The delegates felt he was incompetent, not truthful, or trustworthy, and so they voted massively against him.”
Speaking to host Kwabena Agyapong, Gibril accused the NPP of engaging in “kelewele analysis”—failing to face the harsh realities of modern politics. He characterized Dr. Bawumia as “damaged goods” politically, suggesting the NPP will struggle to survive the 2028 general elections.
He highlighted the results from the party’s headquarters, noting that the low turnout and split results among the 900 voters there indicated a deep lack of trust.
He added that this internal friction would make it difficult for the other contestants to campaign effectively for the elected candidate.
