A Crushing Defeat: The NPP’s Northern Region Debacle in the 2024 Elections
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) experienced a significant setback in the 2024 general elections, particularly in the Northern Region, a region traditionally considered a stronghold. Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul, who also served as the NPP’s Northern campaign coordinator, expressed profound disappointment at the results, which saw the party’s parliamentary representation plummet from a projected 30 seats to a mere 10. This dramatic loss sparked introspection within the party, prompting a critical examination of the factors that contributed to the electoral rout.
Nitiwul candidly admitted that the results were far below expectations and a stark reflection of the party’s failure to connect with the electorate. The ambitious target of securing 30 parliamentary seats was shattered, leaving the NPP reeling from the unexpected loss of support. This significant drop in representation underscores the party’s urgent need to address the underlying issues that led to the electoral defeat.
One contributing factor identified by Nitiwul was the low voter turnout. Even in his own constituency of Bimbilla, where he secured a comfortable victory, the turnout was significantly lower than in the previous 2020 elections, hovering around 77%. This decline in voter participation, even in a stronghold, raised concerns and prompted the need for further investigation. Nitiwul acknowledged the necessity of understanding the reasons behind voter apathy, dismissing a lack of development as a plausible explanation and emphasizing the need to delve deeper into the issue.
The unexpected loss in the Northern Region dealt a particularly heavy blow to the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who had invested considerable effort in campaigning across the region. Nitiwul, who coordinated Bawumia’s northern campaign, expressed his sadness at the results, describing them as unfair to the candidate’s hard work and dedication. This sentiment reflects the party’s recognition of Bawumia’s significant contribution and the disappointment that his efforts did not translate into electoral success.
While the results were deeply disheartening, Nitiwul remained optimistic about the NPP’s future. He viewed the setback as an opportunity for the party to rebuild and regain the trust of the electorate. He emphasized the importance of introspection and strategic improvements, acknowledging the need to learn from the mistakes made during the campaign. The party intends to conduct extensive research, involving all organs and MPs, to thoroughly analyze the factors that contributed to the electoral loss and identify areas for improvement.
Nitiwul’s analysis of the pre-election polling data further highlighted the unexpected nature of the results. Despite conducting three polls, none predicted the scale of the NPP’s losses, particularly in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions. While the polls indicated potential challenges in these regions, the actual outcome far exceeded the predicted decline in voter support. This discrepancy underscores the unpredictable nature of Ghanaian politics and the need for greater accuracy in pre-election polling.
Despite the setback, Nitiwul found a silver lining in the fact that the lost votes did not swing to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Instead, a significant portion of the electorate chose to stay home, indicating a potential pool of voters who could be persuaded to support the NPP in future elections. This realization provides a glimmer of hope for the party, suggesting that with the right approach and a renewed focus on addressing the concerns of the electorate, the NPP can regain lost ground. The challenge now lies in developing a strategy to effectively engage these disenfranchised voters and win back their support.
