Former Member of Parliament for Effia in the Western Region, Joseph Cudjoe has cautioned members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against making comment that could create tension and long-lasting divisions within the party ahead of its primaries in January 2026.
According to him, if such attitude is left unchecked, it will lead to voter apathy among party members.
The NPP government, after being loudly clapped out, has spent the past year attempting to rebuild. Party leaders have made overtures to suspended members and rallied grassroots supporters around a new vision for 2028.
Yet, even as the rebuilding process unfolds, the party has accelerated into campaign mode, launching preparations for its presidential primaries.
For some, this rush is premature. “The wound from 2024 is still fresh,” party insiders argue. Five members —including 2024 flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia—will contest.
Predictably, competition has brought with it familiar patterns: sharp rhetoric, name-calling, and entrenched slogans that Mr Cudjoe fears could derail efforts at unity.
In an statement shared with Connect FM, Mr Cudjoe cautioned that phrases such as ‘No Candidate, no Vote’ carry the seeds of apathy and alienation.
“Phrases like ‘No Candidate X, No Vote’ can create division and lead to apathy within our NPP support base. If we truly want NPP to succeed in the upcoming elections, we need to refrain from such divisive rhetoric during our internal election processes and instead promote messages that unite us.”
Factionalism is not new to the country’s political landscape. Analysts note that supporters of losing candidates are often sidelined once their rivals ascend to power, breeding resentment and entrenching bitterness.
Far from healing, such dynamics can linger, sometimes quietly, until they resurface in moments of crisis.
Mr Cudjoe recalls how similar rivalries before the 2024 polls undermined party cohesion.
“Imagine if we incite resentment towards Bawumia supporters with a ‘No Bawumia, No Vote’ narrative,” he reflected. “The disunity that would follow could have long-lasting effects, not just for this election, but also for future contests.”
He warned that by ignoring the lessons of the past, the NPP risks creating “wounds” that, in his words, may take “forever” to heal.
He further called for perspective and restraint: “We all want NPP to remain a strong party, and that requires all of us to think beyond our personal preferences. Let’s prioritise the greater good of our party and channel our energies towards fostering unity and collaboration. By carefully considering the messages we share, we can create an atmosphere of support and enthusiasm among our voters.”
As the primaries approach, the NPP faces a familiar dilemma—balancing the fiery passion of internal contests with the sobering task of stitching together a unified front for national elections.
Whether the party can manage that balancing act may well determine its chances in 2028. Mr. Cudjoe remains positive about a desirable outcome.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
