The camp of New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has downplayed suggestions that a strong showing in the party’s presidential primaries automatically boosts an aspirant’s chances of being chosen as running mate for the 2028 elections.
Speculation, particularly on social media, has pointed to Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s performance in the flagbearer race as potentially placing him in pole position for the vice-presidential slot.
However, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to Dr. Bawumia, insisted that placement in the primaries is not part of the criteria for selecting a running mate.
“The selection of the mate is purely the prerogative of the candidate in consultation with the National Council,” he said.
According to Mr. Aboagye, several factors guide the choice of a vice-presidential candidate, but finishing second, third, or fourth in the internal race does not influence the decision.
“There are several criteria that come into play. One of them does not include becoming second or third in the contest,” he explained.
He added that all aspirants who contested alongside Dr. Bawumia remain potential choices, but not because of their placement in the primaries.
“All the aspirants we ran with Dr. Bawumia are people who could actually be running mates, but not because they ran with him and were second, third, or fourth,” he said.
Mr. Aboagye noted that the final decision rests with Dr. Bawumia in collaboration with the party’s National Council and will be guided by strategic indicators aimed at securing electoral victory.
“It is a prerogative of the candidate in consultation with the National Council,” he said, adding: “When the time is due, the indicators will be used to ensure that the right person, the best person, is selected to run with Dr. Bawumia to give us the outcome that we want as a party.”
Dr. Bawumia was officially declared the winner of the NPP flagbearer contest after polling 110,645 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of the total valid ballots cast, securing the party’s ticket for the 2028 general elections.
His closest challenger, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, placed second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent of the total.
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