Bawumia: I’d have stepped aside if religion, tribe mattered in elections

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has issued a firm caution against attempts by certain elements within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to inject tribal and religious undertones into the party’s internal race for the 2028 presidential ticket.

Speaking at a meeting with the NPP Constituency Chairmen Caucus in Kumasi over the weekend, Dr. Bawumia urged party members to reject any effort aimed at fracturing the party’s unity through appeals to ethnic or religious identity.

His remarks follow increasing anxiety about the tone and direction of internal party discourse after the NPP’s loss in the 2024 general elections.

“We are a united party encompassing people from all ethnic groups, all religions, and we are all part of the elephant family. It is therefore very important that we do not allow people, for the sake of political advantage, to bring us apart as a party,” he said.

He continued:

“I’m saying this because recently people are going religious and tribal. That’s dangerous for the New Patriotic Party. Very dangerous for us if you go in that direction.”

His comments come in the wake of a circulating video showing Nhyiaeso MP Dr. Steven Amoah—an open supporter of presidential hopeful Kennedy Agyapong—suggesting to TESCON members in Kumasi that Christians are not ready to support a Muslim candidate. 

Though no names were mentioned, the remarks were widely interpreted as targeting Dr. Bawumia, who led the party in the December 2024 elections.

In response, Dr. Bawumia dismissed such sentiments as unfounded. He referenced the findings of the Prof. Mike Oquaye Committee, which reviewed the party’s electoral defeat, to support his position.

“What is clear, and it is stated in black and white in the Oquaye report, as well as all the other surveys, is that religion and tribe were not factors in the 2024 election. So we should not try to create and say that Christians would not vote for Bawumia. My 4.7 million votes—were they all Muslims who voted for me? It is not possible. All voted for me.”

He further argued that historical electoral outcomes disprove the notion that religion determines electability.

“When Kufuor lost, did we say religion? When Mills lost, did we say religion? When Nana Akufo-Addo lost, did we say religion? That is not a factor, but people want to make it a factor for political reasons.”

Addressing claims that his faith could hinder the party’s chances in 2028, Dr. Bawumia stated that he would have stepped aside if he believed his candidacy posed a risk to the party.

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have contested at all. I would have stepped aside if that is the case, because I’m not a selfish person. I value the party. I would not jeopardise the ability of the party to win the 2028 election.”

He concluded by warning that exploiting ethnic and religious differences for political gain could undermine the NPP’s cohesion and long-term success.

“People are trying to do that for their own political advantage and it is really dangerous for our party.”