Legal practitioner and media commentator Martin Kpebu has cast doubt on former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s ability to attract floating voters ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer election in January next year.
Commenting on TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, Mr Kpebu said the NPP appears disconnected from the public mood, arguing that the party’s leadership has failed to recognize the electorate’s message from the last general election.
“They are tone-deaf. They should have seen that the last election spoke volumes,” he said. “A man went to the elections and got forty-one point something percent. Right? And the context is that he had supported Akufo-Addo to unleash terror, famine, death, so much misery on Ghanaians.”
According to Mr. Kpebu, the NPP risks repeating its electoral mistakes by rallying behind a candidate closely associated with the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, which he believes lost public trust.
“Such a candidate doesn’t appeal to the voters,” he argued.
He urged party delegates to prioritize electability over loyalty, emphasizing that victory in 2028 will depend on a candidate who can win over undecided voters.
“What we should be looking out for is, ‘Do we have a candidate that appeals to the floating voters like me?’ That is where they should be looking at,” he said.
Mr. Kpebu described the opposition party’s confidence in Dr Bawumia’s candidacy as misplaced, adding that the vice president’s record in government will make it difficult for him to attract neutral voters.
“This is like they are tickling themselves and laughing. Bawumia won’t appeal to floating voters, no,” he stated.
His comments add to the growing debate within political circles about the NPP’s chances of returning to power after its historic loss last year.
With Dr Bawumia seen as the frontrunner in the flagbearer race, analysts say the party’s choice will heavily influence its appeal to independent-minded voters in the next election.
The five men seeking to lead the party include Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Ken Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
