The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected claims that its defeat in the Akwatia by-election signals waning support, attributing the outcome instead to what it describes as inducements and the abuse of incumbency by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Evans Nimako, the party’s Director of Research and Elections, insisted that the results could not be interpreted as a clear rejection of the NPP.
Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, September 3, he alleged that the NDC’s victory was driven by questionable tactics rather than a genuine shift in voter confidence.
“We witnessed inducements in the constituency, we witnessed abuse of incumbency — these were evident,” Mr Nimako said, adding that although the NDC’s Bernard Bediako won by nearly 3,000 votes, the outcome should be assessed against the NPP’s performance in the 2024 general election.
He stressed that the NPP had retained Akwatia in December 2024 with a margin of more than 2,000 votes, arguing that the latest result must be viewed in that context.
The by-election, which followed the death of sitting MP Ernest Kumi, has since triggered debate about its broader implications for the NPP’s electoral fortunes in 2028.
Source: myjoyonline.com
