Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul says former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is not distracted by rivals in the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s presidential race.

The Bimbilla MP said the 2024 NPP flagbearer is instead focused squarely on winning the confidence of party delegates.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, he dismissed suggestions that Dr Bawumia sees any of the other contenders as a threat.

“Bawumia is not looking at anybody as a threat. He is looking to the NPP supporters to give him that mandate, and we believe that he will win,” he said.

According to him, the campaign is not built around attacking opponents.

“It’s not targeting an individual who is not in our campaign.”

Responding to questions about the strength of the other aspirants, Mr Nitiwul acknowledged that each brings influence and support into the contest.

“Trust me, they’re all strong in their various areas. Ken, Bryan, Kwabena and Adutwum all have their own following. They all have their own strength.”

He explained that Dr Bawumia’s posture is deliberate and rooted in political realism.

“And you see, I’m hesitant to go and run after somebody. If you really believe you are going to win an election as a presidential candidate, you don’t go running down other candidates, because you will need them after the elections.”

Mr Nitiwul argued that attacks on fellow aspirants often betray a lack of confidence.

“If you see a candidate running down another candidate, that candidate does not believe you win, he or she wins, because if you believe like that, you will not run.”

He warned that such an approach creates problems after the contest.

“If I’m contesting, which I’m running you down after the election, how am I going to get you back?”

In his view, restraint must come from the candidate, not just supporters.

“So you, the candidate yourself, should never, maybe some of your supporters can do, but you, the candidate yourself, should never, that’s a piece of advice.”

He stressed that unity after the primaries should guide campaign conduct.

“You should never run down another candidate. If you really believe you will be the candidate, how are you going to get that candidate and his supporters to come on board?”

Mr Nitiwul said Dr Bawumia’s campaign reflects that thinking.

“So if you look at the way Bawumia is going about his campaign, he never talks about other candidates.”

Instead, he said the Vice President is focused on the message and vision.

“He puts his points out there. Focuses on his campaign. It tells the delegates his message. He tells the people of Ghana his vision.”

Mr Nitiwul said the campaign believes that approach is resonating within the party.

“And we think that we have said enough to let the NPP people realise that the candidate that the people of Ghana are looking for is Bawumia.”