As the race for the NPP flagbearer position in the 2028 general election intensifies, tensions are rising between the camps of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong.
Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for the Agyapong campaign, has dismissed claims that over 200 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) have endorsed Dr. Bawumia, describing the assertion as neither surprising nor impactful.
Accordingly, Kwarteng dismissed the meeting of MMDCEs as a familiar tactic, arguing that such orchestrated endorsements are not new in NPP politics, and do not automatically equate to victory at the polls.
“It is good for them [Bawumia’s camp], we wish them well if indeed they believe they have over 200 MMDCEs. I’m sure the election day will vindicate that position.”
Kwasi Kwarteng
Accordingly, Kwarteng asserted that the eventual outcome will speak louder than public displays of support.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Dr. Bawumia and the former MMDCEs took place at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Monday, 23rd June, 2025.
According to reports, the gathering brought together individuals who had served under previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments.
Many of them were said to have expressed support for the former Vice President as he positions himself to contest the party’s internal presidential primary scheduled for January 2026.
This latest show of support follows another high-profile event just days earlier, when Dr. Bawumia hosted over 60 NPP Members of Parliament at his campaign office.
These MPs, drawn from various constituencies across the country, publicly declared their backing for his candidacy, signaling a strong wave of internal momentum in his favor.
Focus Remains On Grassroots Support
Kwasi Kwarteng also stressed that the Agyapong campaign is deliberately prioritizing what it sees as the true arena of political influence—the party’s grassroots base.
He pointed out that although endorsements from high-ranking figures may generate headlines, they hold little sway over the polling station executives, whose votes will ultimately decide the outcome of the NPP’s internal leadership contest.
“Our focus is to engage over 200,000 polling station executives. We are confident that they will make a determination on who they believe should lead the party — a candidate who is marketable, winnable, and can unite the party.”
Kwasi Kwarteng
Kwarteng went further to suggest that many of the endorsements being reported are part of a deliberate public relations strategy designed to create a false narrative of overwhelming support.
He drew comparisons to the last internal contest, during which similar claims were made about Dr. Bawumia’s popularity.
According to him, this tactic “directly convinced polling station executives to vote for Dr. Bawumia, and we all saw the outcome.”
He added that this time, the delegates will be more discerning and will not fall for what he described as staged shows of unity.
According to him, the priority for the NPP should be to rally around a flagbearer who has broad appeal, a clear message, and the ability to bring the party together—qualities he believes Kennedy Agyapong embodies.
“I know that this time around, they [the delegates] will not make a decision and elect a candidate that is not marketable, elect a candidate that is not winnable, elect a candidate that will not be able to unite the party.”
Kwasi Kwarteng
Bawumia Camp Misreads Party Support
Kwasi Kwarteng further argued that the Bawumia camp is under a false impression if it assumes that endorsements from former government appointees will lead to actual electoral success.
He suggested that such displays of support, while symbolic, do not necessarily reflect the sentiments of the broader party base, which holds the real power in internal elections.“So it is left for them [Bawumia’s camp] to lie to themselves that they have been endorsed by these MMDCEs.”
This internal rivalry is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched leadership battles in the NPP’s recent history. With the 2026 primary looming, both camps are intensifying their outreach, consolidating support, and refining their campaign narratives.
While the Bawumia team appears to be leaning on high-profile endorsements and party elite backing, Agyapong’s strategy appears rooted in direct grassroots engagement and populist appeal.
As party faithful await the official opening of nominations and campaign activities, the differing strategies underscore broader questions about the future direction of the NPP and the qualities its members will prioritize in selecting the next NPP flagbearer.
Whether it will be a contest shaped by elite consensus or grassroots momentum remains to be seen—but what is clear is that the road to 2028 has already begun within the NPP, and the stakes are higher than ever.
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