Kpebu calls on Bawumia to step aside for younger Muslim candidate

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to rethink his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He argued that the Vice President’s record in office has not produced enough results to warrant another attempt at the flagbearership.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme, Mr. Kpebu argued that Dr. Bawumia was given the opportunity to demonstrate leadership and deliver on promises, but, in his assessment, the Vice President’s performance fell short. For that reason, he believes it would be in the best interest of the party if Dr. Bawumia steps back and allows younger figures within the NPP to emerge.

“Bawumia is not sellable. He has delivered next to nothing. Instead of insisting on leading the party himself, he should support a younger Muslim candidate and help project that person to the party faithful,” Mr. Kpebu remarked.

He suggested that the NPP should be thinking of youthful, marketable personalities who could rejuvenate the party’s image ahead of future elections. Among the names he mentioned were Patrick Boamah and Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, whom he described as individuals with the potential to appeal to a broader base.

Mr. Kpebu further cautioned against allowing age to become a stumbling block in future contests, stressing that by the time Dr. Bawumia reaches 70, it would be impractical for the party to rely on him to lead. “We will not try that again. The party should look to the next generation,” he said.

His comments come at a time when the internal contest for NPP leadership continues to attract public interest. According to the latest Global InfoAnalytics poll, Dr. Bawumia is still the frontrunner with 52 percent support, while his closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong, trails with 17 percent. The poll results suggest that despite criticism from some quarters, the Vice President maintains significant backing within the party.