Abanga Yakubu, an aspirant for the position of National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Thursday filed his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, at exactly 12 noon.
Addressing the party’s Elections Committee shortly after submitting his forms, Mr. Abanga pledged to run an issue-based campaign if given the nod by delegates. He also used the occasion to commend the party leadership for the ongoing reorganisation exercise, describing it as a timely step toward strengthening the NPP’s grassroots structures ahead of the 2028 general election.
The aspirant was accompanied to the party headquarters by twelve regional youth organisers of the party, along with several other youth organisers from constituencies across the country, in a show of support that underscored the backing he currently enjoys within the party’s youth ranks.
Party officials at the secretariat confirmed that Abanga’s forms were received and duly processed by the Elections Committee, clearing the way for his candidature to be vetted ahead of the party’s internal elections. Sources close to the process say the committee is expected to announce a vetting timetable for all youth organiser aspirants in the coming weeks, after which qualified candidates will be cleared to campaign officially across the country’s sixteen regions.
A Party Rebuilding After 2024
Abanga’s nomination comes at a defining moment for the NPP, which is still working to rebuild its structures following its defeat in the 2024 general election. The party’s youth wing, long regarded as one of its most energetic organs, has faced calls from within the rank and file for renewal, better resourcing, and a stronger digital and grassroots presence ahead of the next election cycle.
It is against this backdrop that the ongoing reorganisation exercise, which Mr. Yakubu commended during his remarks to the Elections Committee, has taken on added significance. Party leaders have described the exercise as an opportunity to audit membership rolls, strengthen constituency-level structures, and reposition the party for a more competitive showing in 2028.
Aspirant Rallies Supporters After Filing
Following the formal submission of his nomination, Mr. Abanga turned to address a charged crowd of supporters who had gathered at the party’s headquarters. He thanked them for their solidarity and reaffirmed his commitment to resourcing and rebranding the NPP’s youth wing as part of efforts to help the party recapture political power in 2028.
Outlining elements of his vision for the youth wing, he announced his intention to launch a “70 Seats Recapture Project,” an initiative aimed at helping the party reclaim seats it lost in previous elections. He also unveiled what he termed the “Agenda 4 Million Votes Youth for Dr. Bawumia” campaign, a youth mobilisation drive designed to rally four million youth votes behind Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the 2028 polls.
Abanga further reiterated his commitment to resourcing and revamping the Tertiary Students Confederacy of the NPP (TESCON), which he described as a critical vehicle for winning the 2028 elections through sustained youth and student engagement. He noted that a well-funded and well-organised TESCON structure on campuses nationwide would be central to reversing the party’s recent electoral setbacks among younger voters.
The crowd, made up largely of young party faithful, constituency youth executives, and TESCON alumni, responded to the announcements with visible enthusiasm, chanting and waving party colours as Abanga spoke. Several supporters interviewed afterward described the “70 Seats Recapture Project” and the “Agenda 4 Million Votes Youth for Dr. Bawumia” initiative as ambitious but necessary, given the scale of the party’s rebuilding task ahead of 2028.
Vision for the Youth Wing
In brief remarks to journalists after addressing the crowd, he explained that his flagship projects were designed to work together: the 70 Seats Recapture Project would focus on identifying and strengthening the party’s position in constituencies considered winnable or previously held, while the 4 Million Votes Youth agenda would serve as the mobilisation engine to drive turnout among first-time and youth voters in support of Dr. Bawumia’s future ambitions.
He added that resourcing the youth wing would not be limited to funding alone, but would also involve training, capacity building, and closer coordination between regional and constituency youth organisers — a structure he said had been “under-utilised” in recent election cycles.
Political observers say the scale of Mr. Abanga’s pledges reflects the pressure facing NPP youth leadership aspirants to present concrete, measurable programmes rather than general promises, as the party seeks to demonstrate seriousness about its 2028 comeback bid. Analysts note, however, that turning such ambitious targets into results will depend heavily on the party’s ability to mobilise funding and sustain organisational discipline over the coming years.
What Happens Next
With nominations for the National Youth Organiser position now open, he joins a field of aspirants expected to contest the role. The Elections Committee is expected to close nominations within the coming days, after which vetting and eventual campaigning will begin in earnest ahead of the party’s national delegates’ conference.
For now, Abanga’s filing — backed by the visible presence of all twelve regional youth organisers — signals that he enters the race with substantial grassroots support already in place, setting the tone for what is expected to be a keenly contested election for the leadership of the NPP’s youth wing.
His nomination filing is expected to intensify the race for the position of National Youth Organiser, as the party gears up for internal elections ahead of the 2028 general election.
