Former Vice President and flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has picked number 3 on the ballot paper for the party’s January 31, 2026, presidential primary.
The balloting exercise, held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the NPP Headquarters in Accra, brought together representatives of the aspirants, members of the party’s elections committee, and other key stakeholders.
Dr. Bawumia’s team received the number 3 position amid cheers from supporters who described the number as symbolic of victory and continuity.
They linked it to the belief that the former Vice President is destined to become the third NPP President under the Fourth Republic, after former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The balloting marked a significant step in the NPP’s internal election process, which will determine who leads the party into the 2028 general election.
Dr Bawumia was the NPP presidential candidate for the 2024 general election, and the majority of party faithful believe he is well-suited with the requisite experience and high level of integrity to recapture power for the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition.
NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee, on October 10, announced in a statement that five aspirants will contest the flagbearership race.
The order on the ballot paper is as follows:
- Ken Ohene Agyapong
- Dr Bryan Acheampong
- Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
- Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum
- Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
The exercise, conducted in collaboration with officials from the Electoral Commission (EC), was aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the internal electoral process.
The committee expressed gratitude to all aspirants, their representatives, and EC officials for their cooperation and decorum during the event.
In the statement, the Secretary to the Presidential Elections Committee, William Yamoah, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democratic values and fairness.
“The New Patriotic Party remains steadfast in its resolve to conduct a transparent, credible and peaceful presidential primary as we prepare to elect a flagbearer for the 2026 general elections,” he emphasised.
The NPP is gearing up for a competitive yet what is expected to be peaceful contest as aspirants intensify their campaigns across the country.
Party officials reiterated their commitment to a transparent, fair, and credible process, emphasising that unity after the primary will be crucial to securing victory in the next general election.
The January 31 primary will see delegates from all 276 constituencies voting to elect the next presidential candidate to lead the NPP into the future.
Bawumia’s engagement with party delegates
Ahead of the presidential primary, Dr Bawumia has been engaging with NPP delegates and has so far visited four regions, namely Eastern, Ashanti, Central and Greater Accra.
His message has been widely received by enthusiastic NPP supporters, with the majority of the delegates promising to re-elect him to lead the party into the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“I concluded my special engagement with Electoral Area Coordinators in the Greater Accra Region yesterday with a call for unity and a shared vision as we head into the January 31 polls. I am heartened by the very warm welcome offered me, and remain confident that together, we can #WinWithBawumia, #Bawumia 2028.
“I appreciate their commitment and motivation to work together towards achieving an emphatic win with Bawumia on January 31” Dr Bawumia wrote on his Facebook timeline.
