Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed optimism that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will be able to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The party’s 2024 flagbearer said he believes the NPP can earn more than 50% of the total votes in the 2028 elections, just as it bounced back in the past.
Speaking during the party’s nationwide post-election thank-you tour on Monday, April 28, Dr. Bawumia cited how many discouraged former President John Agyekum Kufuor from contesting in 2000 after his 1996 defeat.
“Kufuor contested for the first time in 1996, securing 39%, more than the 41.7% I garnered. Many said he shouldn’t contest again, but he stood in 2000 and won. If we could cross 50% in 2000 after 39% in 1996, I believe we can cross 50% from 41.7% in 2028,” he said.
The NPP, which contested the 2024 polls aiming to break the eight-year cycle of governance, lost by over 1.7 million votes to the NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
From holding 137 seats in Parliament, the party’s representation dropped to 88 seats—losing nearly 50 to the now-ruling NDC, which commands almost a two-thirds majority in the House.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bawumia earlier observed that while the NPP’s votes declined by 2.1 million compared to 2020, President Mahama gained only a little over one hundred thousand votes.
However, during the ongoing tour, the former Vice President has acknowledged, with reference to the party’s election review report, that the arrogance of power, the introduction of the e-levy, the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, and overall economic hardships caused the party’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
