A founding father of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe is asking the leadership of the party especially its flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo to maintain Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as his running mate for the 2012 general elections. According to him, it will be politically unwise for Dr. Bawumia who was the party’s running mate in the 2008 elections to be changed while the flagbearer has been maintained by the party. The choice of a running mate for Nana Akufo-Addo has generated a lot of speculations among members of the party and the public. Some media reports indicate three persons have been shortlisted for the running mate position, namely the 2008 running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Lepowura Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula and deputy Minority Leader, Ambrose Dery. A leading member of NPP and Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, P.C. Appiah-Ofori joined the debate with his own proposals, asking that Jawula be picked rather than maintaining Bawumia. Former "Senior Minister" under the Kufuor administration, Mr J.H. Mensah is also warning the party’s flagbearer against picking a running mate from the three regions up north solely on the grounds of ethnic balance. Speaking on Asempa FM’s current affairs programme Ekosii Sen on Friday, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe noted that if Nana Addo maintains Bawumia, victory awaits the party in the 2012 general elections. He stressed that the NPP has a tradition which should always be factored in when taking a major political decision like choosing a running-mate for the party. “Everybody knows that our party is Dankwah, Busia and Dombo tradition which is very outstanding because all our flagbearers from Paa Willie’s time have been picking a northerner as running-mate and that must be followed”. Nyaho said he will be surprised if Nana Akufo-Addo goes for any other person than Bawumia to partner him. According to Nyaho-Tamakloe, Bawumia in 2008 performed well. ”I will be surprised if the Nana Addo I know will change Bawumia as his running mate while he (Nana Addo) is being maintained as the party’s flagbearer”. Recounting circumstances in the 2008 elections, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe said Nana together with Bawumia performed well “but it was unfortunate they could not get the required 50%+1 of votes to win the elections”. The leading member of the largest opposition party asserted that if Nana Addo has overwhelmingly been endorsed by the party to lead them into the 2012 general elections, why can’t the party also endorse Dr. Bawumia to partner him. “Nana was re-elected with an overwhelming support of close to 80% as the party’s flagbearer. So it would be politically wrong for the one who partnered him in 2008 to be changed. So simply put, Bawumia must be maintained for victory 2012”. Touting the credentials of Dr. Bawumia who was the party’s running-mate in the 2008 elections, he noted that Dr. Bawumia played well his role given him by the party. ”When he was picked in 2008 by Nana Addo, I was not there but when I met him for the time I saw he was capable and I wholeheartedly endorse him to partner Nana again in 2012”. Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe hinted that though he agrees with senior party members that the choice of a running-mate should be based on merit, it will be politically suicidal to change Bawumia for another person. ”In fact I will ever disagree”.