Within days of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s emphatic victory in the NPP Presidential Primaries, a quiet but firm message has begun circulating within party circles: the ticket is settled. As speculation intensifies over who will partner the flagbearer into the 2028 general elections, signals from the Bawumia camp and growing sentiment within the party base suggest that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO) remains the preferred choice — and that aggressive lobbying from rival camps is unwelcome.
Party insiders say Dr. Bawumia is keenly aware of the lessons from recent political cycles, where prolonged internal horse-trading over running mates weakened momentum and created unnecessary factions. This time, the thinking is different. The flagbearer’s camp appears determined to project calm authority and decisiveness, choosing continuity over distraction.
For many within the party, the push by lobbyists to reopen the running mate conversation so soon after the primaries is being viewed as premature and counterproductive. “The party has just spoken loudly through the primaries,” a senior grassroots organiser remarked. “This is not the time for ambition-driven manoeuvring.”
Dr. Bawumia’s landslide win has been widely interpreted as an endorsement of his leadership style — measured, policy-driven and disciplined. Retaining NAPO, supporters argue, fits squarely within that framework. They point out that NAPO’s role in the 2024 ticket went beyond symbolism; he anchored the campaign’s ideological backbone, defended the government’s record with conviction and energised the party’s core base when morale was tested.
Sources close to the flagbearer insist that Dr. Bawumia is not inclined to reward political pressure or media-driven lobbying. Instead, he is said to be focused on building a cohesive campaign machinery early, one that speaks with a single voice and avoids internal competition. In that context, lobbyists pushing alternative names are being advised — politely but firmly — to stand down.
At the grassroots level, this position is resonating strongly. Constituency executives and polling station agents say reopening the running mate debate risks confusing supporters and undermining unity. “We are rebuilding trust with the electorate,” one regional youth organiser noted. “Unity is our strongest asset right now.”
Retaining NAPO is also seen as a signal of loyalty and confidence — two traits party faithful believe are essential as the NPP prepares for a tough electoral contest. Changing a running mate under pressure, they argue, could suggest hesitation or internal discord, something the party can ill afford.
As conversations continue behind closed doors, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: Dr. Bawumia is setting the tone early. The message is not confrontational, but it is unmistakable — the campaign will not be shaped by noise, speculation or lobbying theatrics.
For now, the prevailing mood within the party is that the Bawumia–NAPO partnership remains intact, deliberate and strategic. And as preparations for 2028 quietly gather pace, lobbyists are being reminded that unity, not ambition, will define the next chapter of the NPP’s journey.
