Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has insisted that former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia retains overwhelming authority and support within the New Patriotic Party, despite securing a lower percentage of votes in the 2026 primaries compared to 2023.

Dr Bawumia won the party’s latest presidential primaries with just over 50 per cent of the votes, down from the more than 60 per cent he secured in the earlier contest.

However, Mr Abu Jinapor dismissed suggestions that the reduced margin weakens the flagbearer’s standing.

He said the breadth of Dr Bawumia’s victory across the country demonstrates broad acceptability within the party and affirms his leadership.

According to the Damongo MP, a win is a win, and the outcome gives Dr Bawumia full authority and a clear mandate to lead the party into the 2028 elections.

“If you look at it in terms of the widespread victory, it means there is much broad acceptability of his candidature.

"But victory is victory, and that means that he has full authority, he has the full mandate of the party, he is the leader of the party, and he is the man in charge of the New Patriotic Party now," he said.

He expressed confidence that all other aspirants and party stakeholders would rally behind the flagbearer to form a united and formidable front ahead of what he described as a crucial electoral contest.

"And I believe that all the others will come onboard and unite and we all will become one formidable family to prosecute the crucial election of 2028.”