The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the New Patriotic Party Presidential Primaries on Saturday, November 4 2023 received an overwhelming endorsement from almost all the sitting members of parliament of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
However, the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong won in a number of the constituencies where these sitting Members of Parliament endorsed the Vice President.
These constituencies include Awutu Senya East, Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ayawaso Central, Gomoa Central, Amasaman, Shama, Assin South and Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro among others.
For instance, despite strong opposition against the Assin Central lawmaker in the Awutu Senya East Constituencies by the Member of Parliament, Honorable Mavis Hawa Koomson the maverick politician won with eighty hundred and forty-nine votes against the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with five hundred and eighty-four votes.
Again, the outspoken and maverick politician garnered an impressive number of votes very close to that of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in constituencies where its sitting members of Parliament endorsed the Vice President.
These constituencies include; Suame, Bantama in the Ashanti Region, Okaikwei Central in the Greater Accra Region etc.
Endorsing a presidential candidate in a party’s internal primaries, only for that candidate to lose in the MP’s constituency, can have several implications for the Member of Parliament (MP).
The implications can vary depending on the specific political context, the relationship between the Member of Parliament and the party, and the reactions of constituents.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon has asserted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who endorsed the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia could lose their seats in the party’s parliamentary election.
According to the political scientist, those Members of Parliament who supported the Vice President but yet the Vice President lost in their constituencies are sitting on a ‘ticking time bomb’.
“These MPs couldn’t deliver their constituencies to Dr. Bawumia despite their public support. This shows they don’t have control and if they don’t take care, they will lose their seats”.
Professor Ransford Gyampo
Kennedy Agyapong’s Campaign Team ‘Tit For Tat’ Challenge
The Campaign Team of Kennedy Agyapong ahead of the presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament (MPs) who were supporting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The Chairman of the Kennedy Agyapong Campaign’s Team, Kwame Owusu indicated that if the Assin Central Member of Parliament wins the flagbearership race of the party they would work against those Members of Parliament to ensure cooperation with their proposed agenda for change.
He decried of the complete silence of the Assin Central Member of Parliament’s close allies such as the Effutu Member of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin and the Asante Asokwa Member of Parliament and Minister of Trade and Industry, K. T Hammond.
With the turnout of the event on Saturday, November 4 2023, it is undoubtedly clear that if Mr Kennedy Agyapong and his Campaign Team pursue its agenda as communicated, quite a number of the sitting Members of Parliament who endorsed the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia risk losing their seats in the party’s parliamentary primaries, particularly for the constituencies where the Assin Central legislator won in the presidential primaries.
Moreover, stemming from the fact the Assin Central Lawmaker did not win the presidential primaries of the party, his impressive performance particularly in some of the constituencies raises doubt about the popularity of the sitting Members of Parliament.
In the likely instances, the endorsement of the sitting Members of Parliament could be seen as a misjudgment or lack of influence within their constituency, potentially leading to a loss of credibility among constituents.
Thus, even if Mr Kennedy Agyapong and his Campaign Team do not avenge retaliation against these sitting Members of Parliament, the constituents who voted for Mr Kennedy Agyapong’s candidature may question the MP’s judgment and alignment with their interests, potentially eroding trust and support.
These Members of Parliament could face a possible challenge in the party’s parliamentary primaries if party members are dissatisfied with the MPs’ endorsement and believe the MP is out of touch with the party’s base.
Like they say, actions do have consequences, the pro-Bawumia Members of Parliament are likely going to ‘bear the brunt’ of the outcome of the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries.
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