Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul says former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia does not see any of his rivals in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) race as a threat and is deliberately avoiding attacks on fellow contenders.

The Bimbilla MP told Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday that Bawumia’s campaign is not built around targeting individuals but around appealing directly to party supporters for a mandate.

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

He dismissed suggestions that the Vice President is framing his campaign against any particular rival.

“It’s not targeting an individual that is not our campaign,” he said.

Asked to identify the biggest challenge among Bawumia’s four main contenders, Mr Nitiwul acknowledged their individual strengths but maintained that none is being singled out.

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

Mr Nitiwul said this was precisely why Bawumia has avoided personal attacks and negative campaigning.

“And you see, I’m hesitant to go and run after somebody,” he said.

He warned that candidates who attack their rivals betray a lack of confidence in their own chances.

“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,” he said.

According to him, negative campaigning creates long-term problems within the party.

“If you see a candidate running down another candidate, that candidate does not believe he or she will win,” he said.

He questioned how unity can be restored after such attacks.

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

Mr Nitiwul said this is why restraint must start with the candidate.

“So you, the candidate yourself, should never,” he said. “Maybe some of your supporters can do, but you, the candidate, should never.”

He described this as a basic rule of political leadership. “You should never run down another candidate,” he said.

He stressed that belief in victory demands a unifying posture.

“If you really believe you will be the candidate, how are you going to get that candidate and his supporters to come on board?” he asked.

Mr Nitiwul said Bawumia’s conduct in the race reflects that thinking.

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

Instead, he said, the Vice President has stayed focused on his own message. “He puts his points out there. Focuses on his campaign,” he said.

Mr Nitiwul said Bawumia has taken his case directly to party delegates and the wider public.

“He tells the delegates his message and tells the people of Ghana his vision,” he said, expressing confidence that this approach will resonate 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,” he said.