NPP leadership distance themselves from Bawumia’s endorsements

Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has rejected claims that the party’s national leadership is behind recent public endorsements of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s bid ahead of the 2026 flagbearer elections.

Speaking on Citi FM on Monday, June 23, Haruna addressed rumours that the NPP leadership is secretly backing Dr Bawumia after a group of former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) publicly declared their support for him.

He said such rumours are not true and insisted that the national executives of the party are neutral.

“People are saying, but it is a rumour and I can tell you on authority that the party leadership certainly does not have a hand in anybody’s declaration,” he said.

Haruna added that even though party members have the right to support any candidate of their choice, they must do so with respect and follow the party’s rules.

“We are dealing with adults, and they have their right to their position and expression… but we must also be guided by certain rules of the game,” he noted.

He stressed that the leadership is focused on ensuring fairness for all aspirants and has not instructed anyone or any group to publicly endorse a particular candidate.

This clarification comes after a group of 220 former MMDCEs held a press conference and announced their support for Dr Bawumia as the NPP’s preferred candidate for the 2026 presidential race.