Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been declared as the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2028 general elections, following his victory in the party’s nationwide primaries held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Official results announced at the party’s headquarters after the completion of collation from all 277 constituencies show that Dr Bawumia secured 110,643 votes, translating into 56.48 per cent of the total valid ballots cast. His performance placed him comfortably above the constitutional threshold required to win the contest outright.
Addressing party officials and supporters, Electoral Commission representatives explained that the NPP’s constitution mandates a candidate to obtain more than half of all valid votes cast to be elected flagbearer. With Dr Bawumia crossing that mark, he was duly declared the party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 polls.
A total of 196,462 votes were cast in the exercise, with 561 ballots rejected, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission.
The results further showed that Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, placed second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent. He was followed by former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong, who polled 36,303 votes, accounting for 18.53 per cent.
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum garnered 1,999 votes (1.02 per cent), while former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong received 402 votes, representing 0.21 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
The primaries attracted strong participation, with over 211,000 accredited delegates voting at more than 300 polling centres nationwide. Party officials described the contest as highly competitive, reflecting the significance of the race as the NPP positions itself for a return to power.
Dr Bawumia contested the primaries alongside four other aspirants, drawing support from delegates across all 16 regions of the country. The exercise was generally peaceful, with party leadership commending delegates for their orderly conduct throughout the process.
With the primaries concluded, attention is expected to shift to party unity and mobilisation as the NPP begins preparations for the 2028 general elections under Dr Bawumia’s leadership.
