The campaign of the Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, has exhibited a clear campaign strategy that distances itself from overwhelming media coverage in his flagbearer bid.
This is a strategy many political analysts believe worked for the first round of the race. Many concur that given the history of the Vice President’s frenzy in the media during the 8-year campaigns toward his boss’, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s, presidency, it was wise of the team to go that way.
The campaign therefore took a door-to-do approach, breaking the boundaries of his high-profile self to the admiration of delegates. It also kept the Vice President away from any goofing and references of his previous campaigns, during his about 15-year political career.
During these years, countless videos and social media materials of his promises, promises people doubt have been realized, are believed to be in a bottomless reserve, ready to be fashioned against his presidential ambitions.
Perhaps, due to recognition of these threats, for which many have tagged the Vice President as a baggage candidate, the campaign team of the Vice President decided to as much as possible operate like a submarine.
The absence of the ‘promising’ Vice President who turns on the red light of live cameras, gave a seeming monopoly to his most vociferous opponent, Kennedy Agyapong.
With a track record of hard-hitting campaigns, Kennedy Agyapong has made numerous accusations against the Vice President, some of which he responded to, and many he never said a word. Not only him but many who have expressed how the system is whipping the entire party in line to make him the presidential candidate of the party.
Some esteemed members, like Professor Adei, have sworn to resist his ambitions.
Yet, the Vice President seemed to believe that delegates were capable of sifting through the issues of complex political scheming. Or, his confidence is attributable to his trust in the systems’ whip.
However, with the 4th of November approaching, it is perhaps dawning on the Vice President to say a few words to what he calls lies and a new strategy employed by his opponents.
“Unfortunately, the way the results of the super delegates came, many of our opponents are confused and they are seeing a looming defeat on November 4 because of that they have decided to adopt some new tactics called if [you] miss the ball don’t miss the man.
“And so what are the tactics? They have decided to spread lies. They want to knock our heads together so they have come up with different lies.”
Mahamudu Bawumia
While his words sought to create the impression that his opponents were afraid of a looming defeat, many people interpreted them as an expression of anxiety, nervousness, and wobbling fear.
Fears Beyond November 4th
The Vice President, many believe, has his ‘tail wagging down between his legs’ following mass discontent within the party about his candidature.
The magnitude of this discontent has manifested at the apex of the party by founding and leading members, his contenders, and those whom Boakye Agyarko terms as ‘resigned in heart’. Was not the unleveled playing ground of the NPP system for the Vice President a prime reason for the resignation of Alan Kojo Kyerematen and his subsequent establishment of the ‘Butterfly Party’?
The Vice President also admitted, by his words, that his opponents may ‘miss the ball and not the man’. That may be his very worst fear; that should he win the November 4th election, the biggest challenge will be closing ranks with very embittered persons whose relevance to his win in the 2024 General Elections is keen.
The former Vice President, who has been tagged by many as the system candidate for the party’s November 4th election, will therefore have more to do than staying away from the media and debunking accusations.
He might have to stay away from the party system on 4th November or face NDC’s well-built re-consecrated giant, John Mahama, with a lost limb and flies.
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