Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flagbearer, has announced that the party will conduct a comprehensive search for parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2028 general elections. The NPP aims to win back seats lost in the 2024 election. In the 2024 election, the NPP lost 49 parliamentary seats, reducing its representation from 137 seats in 2020 to 88 seats. This significant decline prompted the party to reassess its strategy for selecting parliamentary candidates.
According to Dr. Bawumia, the NPP will prioritize candidates who can win general elections, not only those who can win parliamentary primaries. The party will conduct candidate searches across constituencies to identify individuals with the best chance of winning in the general election. Dr. Bawumia emphasized that some individuals can win parliamentary primaries due to their financial resources but may not be capable of winning the general election.
The NPP suffered a major setback in the 2024 parliamentary election, securing only 88 seats. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) won 183 seats, securing a clear majority in Parliament. Dr. Bawumia's comments signal a greater emphasis on electability as the NPP prepares to select parliamentary candidates for the next election. The party seeks to identify candidates capable of not only winning internal contests but also defeating their opponents in the general election.
Dr. Bawumia stated that the NPP will not rely solely on its internal parliamentary primaries to select candidates. Instead, the party will conduct candidate searches across constituencies to identify potential candidates. This approach will give the party an independent assessment of potential parliamentary candidates before the primaries are held. The NPP will also compare assessments from independent sources.
The NPP aims to organize its parliamentary primaries as early as possible to allow the party to complete its internal elections ahead of the 2028 general election. Dr. Bawumia said that having early parliamentary elections will enable the party to focus on the general election. This approach is part of the party's broader efforts to strengthen its preparations for the 2028 election.
The NPP's 2024 parliamentary losses marked a significant decline from its position after the 2020 election. The party will seek to identify candidates who can win both internal contests and general elections. Dr. Bawumia's announcement indicates that the NPP is taking a more strategic approach to selecting parliamentary candidates.
The NPP's efforts to strengthen its preparations for the 2028 election include a greater emphasis on electability. The party will prioritize candidates who can win general elections, and it will conduct comprehensive searches to identify potential candidates. By doing so, the NPP aims to win more seats in the 2028 general election.
Key points
- The NPP will conduct comprehensive searches for parliamentary candidates across constituencies.
- The party will prioritize candidates who can win general elections, not only those who can win parliamentary primaries.
- The NPP aims to organize its parliamentary primaries as early as possible to complete its internal elections ahead of the 2028 general election.
