The Director of Legal Affairs for the governing National Democratic Congress, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has argued that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) effectively predetermined the outcome of its flagbearer race by deciding to hold its presidential primary ahead of other internal party elections.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Mr. Tameklo said the decision was a deliberate strategy designed to favour former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whom he described as the establishment candidate within the party.

According to him, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had, as far back as 2023, carefully laid the political and organisational groundwork to position Dr. Bawumia as the NPP’s preferred successor.

“Former President Akufo-Addo is a crafty person.

He built that infrastructure for Dr. Bawumia in 2023,” Mr. Tameklo stated, arguing that the sequencing of the party’s internal elections effectively sealed the outcome of the contest even before voting began.

He explained that by choosing to conduct the flagbearer election first, the party ensured that its existing power structures and organisational machinery would work to the advantage of Dr. Bawumia over other aspirants.

“So, the very moment they agreed to having the flagbearer elections first was the day they surrendered the elections to Bawumia,” he added.

The New Patriotic Party is scheduled to elect its flagbearer for the 2028 general elections on January 31, 2026, as it begins efforts to reorganise and reclaim power following its defeat in the 2024 polls.