Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the recently chosen flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged all supporters of his candidates to unite and work together to break the eight-year cycle of power in the 2024 general elections.
After winning the NPP’s presidential primary on Saturday, Bawumia made the announcement in his inauguration speech.
“Let us join together to achieve the ambition of breaking the 8,” Bawumia remarked. He went on to say, “That ambition requires the participation of all the aspirants including Kennedy Agyapong who wanted to give me a showdown today.”
Dr Bawumia further stated that he would rally all party members to guarantee that the opposition NDC remains in opposition. He went on to say that his victory demonstrates that the NPP is indeed an inclusive party.
Dr Bawumia beat three other contenders, including Kennedy Agyapong, the outspoken Assin Central MP, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister for Agriculture, and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former Mampong MP.
According to certified results released by a Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Dr Bawumia received 118210 votes, representing 61.47%, while his nearest competitor, Mr Agyapong, received 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%.
Dr Afriyie Akoto, who finished third, received 1,459 votes (0.76%), while Addai-Nimoh received 731 votes (0.41%).
In Saturday’s presidential primary, 192 446 delegates voted. The total number of valid votes was 193, 346, with 900 votes invalidated. The turnout was 94.63%.
Bawumia was expected to win the presidential primary from the start, but he fell short of the 80% threshold established by members of his campaign staff.