Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has described calls for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to immediately name a running mate as premature, urging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on rebuilding and restructuring the party ahead of the 2028 general elections.
In a recent interview, Mr Abu Jinapor said the choice of a vice-presidential candidate is the sole prerogative of Dr Bawumia, as the party’s elected presidential candidate. He noted that although the Constitution requires consultation with the party’s National Council, the final decision rests entirely with the candidate.
He argued that the debate over a running mate is coming too early, pointing out that the NPP only recently concluded its presidential primary. According to him, the party’s immediate priority should be reorganising and strengthening its structures to make the party competitive for the 2028 elections.
Mr Abu Jinapor said the NPP must first rebuild and unify its machinery before turning attention to completing the ticket, adding that rushing into the selection of a running mate could weaken the party strategically.
He also questioned suggestions that the NPP should complete its ticket before the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) elects its own presidential candidate, describing politics as a strategic contest in which the choice of a running mate should complement the presidential candidate and take into account the likely opponent.
He warned that selecting a vice-presidential candidate too early could put the party at a disadvantage and stressed that the issue should be addressed later, after the party has stabilised and positioned itself properly for the next election.