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Former Defence Minister and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, has described the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) performance in the Northern Region during the 2024 general elections as deeply disheartening.
Despite extensive campaign efforts, the party suffered a significant reduction in parliamentary seats, a setback that Nitiwul admits was unexpected and painful.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Nitiwul, who served as the NPP’s campaign coordinator in the Northern Region, expressed frustration over the outcome, especially considering the dedication of their presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
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“It was disheartening to see these results, especially after all the hard work we put in. Dr. Bawumia campaigned tirelessly, engaging communities, listening to their concerns, and offering solutions. We expected our efforts to translate into more votes and parliamentary seats, but unfortunately, that was not the case.”
The NPP’s loss in the Northern Region was particularly shocking given the party’s previous gains. Nitiwul revealed that internal projections had estimated a strong performance, with the party expecting to win up to 30 parliamentary seats.
However, the final count saw the NPP securing only 10, a stark contrast to their expectations.
“We knew there were challenges, but we never anticipated such a drastic reduction in our seats. This defeat calls for serious introspection and a reassessment of our approach to campaigning in the region.”
One of the major factors Nitiwul identified as contributing to the poor results was voter apathy.
He noted that while opposition support did not necessarily increase, many traditionally NPP-leaning voters chose to stay home rather than cast their ballots.
“Turnout in some of our strongholds was lower than expected. In my own constituency, for instance, participation dropped to 77%, which is significantly less than in 2020. We must understand why some of our supporters decided not to vote and address their concerns moving forward.”
Despite the disappointment, Nitiwul remains optimistic about the NPP’s ability to recover and rebuild. He emphasised that the results serve as a lesson for the party to refine its engagement strategies and reconnect with its base.
“This election has shown us that nothing is guaranteed in politics. We need to do better in addressing voter concerns, improving our outreach, and ensuring that people feel confident in the NPP’s vision for Ghana. The fact that many voters stayed home rather than voting for the opposition means we still have an opportunity to win them back.”
Nitiwul concluded by reaffirming the party’s commitment to analysing the election results, learning from mistakes, and making necessary adjustments ahead of future elections.
He stressed that while the loss was painful, it should serve as a catalyst for positive change within the NPP.
“The road ahead will not be easy, but we are determined to rebuild and come back stronger. We owe it to our supporters to listen, strategise, and ensure that we regain their trust and enthusiasm.”
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