Former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has cautioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against presenting a new presidential candidate in future elections, describing such a move as a political gamble the party should avoid.

According to him, internal assessments conducted after the party’s election loss showed that the personality of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was not a factor in the defeat. Rather, party members attributed the loss mainly to voter fatigue after eight years in government.

Speaking on Metro  TV on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mr. Atta Akyea said Dr. Bawumia’s appeal played a significant role in securing 41 percent of the votes despite what he described as a difficult political environment.

“I am trying to show the arithmetic that when the situation was terribly bad, the persona of the man attracted him the 41 percent that he got in the election. Common sense will suggest that we show him again,” he said.

He argued that historical trends indicate that first-time presidential candidates often struggle to win on their initial attempt and stressed the need to build on Dr. Bawumia’s existing support.

“We have to lift him up again and then add about nine percent to cross the 50 plus one mark. That is how we get him as president,” he stated.

Mr. Atta Akyea further suggested that the opposition would likely face challenges introducing a new candidate against Dr. Bawumia, who he said already enjoys strong national recognition and credibility.

“By the time the NDC brings a new candidate against Bawumia, who is already marketed and whose figures are in his favour, I am telling you there is nobody they will bring who will have the national appeal and the doctoral appeal more than Bawumia,” he added.

He warned that abandoning Dr. Bawumia to present a new candidate would expose the party to unnecessary risks.

“If we decide to start afresh with new people and allow the NDC to use propaganda against them, that will be a lottery the NPP should not get involved in,” he said.

The NPP will hold its presidential primaries on January 31, 2026, to vote for a candidate to lead it into the 2028 general elections. The race is between former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Former MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, and Former Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.

Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyepong, are also in the race.