The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primary has dealt a significant blow to the ambitions of flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, as provisional results from polling centres across the country indicate a commanding victory for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
With more than 50 percent of the total votes cast nationwide, Dr. Bawumia has effectively sealed the contest, leaving Mr. Agyapong and the three other contenders trailing far behind, collectively accounting for about 43 percent of the votes. The outcome underscores the former Vice President’s strong grip on the party’s grassroots and exposes the limited electoral appeal of his challengers.
In the aftermath of the results, Mr. Agyapong urged his supporters to refrain from divisive rhetoric, cautioning against the popular protest slogan “No Ken, no vote.” His remarks appeared to acknowledge the growing frustration within his camp following the decisive loss.
“Don’t say that no Ken, no vote,” Agyapong told his supporters. “If it had been Ken, what would other contestants’ supporters have said? … Let’s come together as one people.”
Despite the call for unity, his comments reflected the reality of a bruising defeat. Mr. Agyapong, a long-serving politician, openly admitted that the outcome was not what he had hoped for, describing it as “the worst” he had anticipated.
“I am a veteran politician, so I know. I have gone through several defeats… the worst has happened,” he said, while attempting to rally his supporters to accept the verdict of the delegates.
He further appealed for party cohesion, stressing that internal differences should not be weaponised against any faction within the NPP. According to him, the party must close ranks following the delegates’ decision.
“Once they have decided, let’s all come together as party members and work together,” he said.
In a conciliatory tone, Mr. Agyapong thanked his campaign team, acknowledging their efforts despite the disappointing outcome. He attributed the loss to timing and fate rather than a lack of effort, stating that “God’s time is the best.”
While Dr. Bawumia’s dominant performance positions him as the clear frontrunner heading into the general election, the scale of Mr. Agyapong’s defeat raises questions about his influence within the party and the depth of support for his brand of politics going forward.
