Former Defence Minister and Bimbilla MP, Dominic Nitiwul, says former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains unfazed by competition in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ongoing presidential race.
According to him, the party’s 2024 flagbearer is focused solely on securing the confidence and mandate of NPP delegates, rather than being distracted by rival aspirants.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Mr Nitiwul dismissed claims that Dr Bawumia views any of the other contenders as a threat.
“Bawumia is not looking at anybody as a threat. He is looking to NPP supporters to give him the mandate, and we believe he will win,” he said.
He stressed that Dr Bawumia’s campaign is not built around attacking fellow party members.
“It’s not targeting any individual who is not in our campaign,” he added.
Addressing the strength of the other aspirants, Mr Nitiwul acknowledged that they each command influence and support within the party.
“Trust me, they are all strong in their various areas. Ken, Bryan, Kwabena and Adutwum all have their own following and their own strengths,” he said.
Mr Nitiwul explained that Dr Bawumia’s approach is deliberate and grounded in political pragmatism, noting that a serious contender does not undermine rivals he may later need.
“If you truly believe you are going to win as a presidential candidate, you don’t go running down other candidates, because you will need them after the elections,” he said.
He argued that attacks on fellow aspirants often signal a lack of confidence.
“When you see a candidate running down another candidate, it means that candidate does not believe he or she will win. If you believe you will win, you won’t do that,” he stated.
Mr Nitiwul warned that such tactics create unity challenges after the primaries.
“If I contest and run you down, how do I bring you back on board after the election?” he asked.
He emphasised that restraint should begin with the candidate, even if supporters act otherwise.
“Some supporters may do that, but the candidate himself should never do so,” he advised.
According to him, unity after the primaries must guide how campaigns are conducted.
“If you truly believe you will be the candidate, how do you then get the other candidates and their supporters to join you?” he questioned.
Mr Nitiwul said Dr Bawumia’s campaign reflects this philosophy.
“If you look at the way Bawumia is conducting his campaign, he never talks about other candidates,” he noted.
Instead, he said the former Vice President is focused on presenting his ideas and vision.
“He puts his points out there, focuses on his campaign, speaks to the delegates, and shares his vision with the people of Ghana,” he said.
Mr Nitiwul added that the campaign believes this message is resonating strongly within the party.
“And we believe we have said enough for NPP members to realise that the candidate Ghanaians are looking for is Bawumia.”
