Counting is underway across the country as early results from the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries show former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia taking an early lead in the closely watched flagbearer race.

Preliminary tallies from several constituencies indicate that Dr Bawumia is ahead of his rivals as counting of ballots continues at polling centres nationwide.

Party supporters and accredited observers have gathered at collation centres, monitoring the process as results trickle in from the constituencies.

Voting officially closed at 2 pm in all 277 constituencies, bringing to an end a keenly contested internal election to select the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.

Five candidates are contesting the race: former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong; former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong; and former General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyapong.

The election sees more than 200,000 delegates casting their ballots nationwide, a process widely described within the party as crucial to shaping the NPP’s future leadership and electoral strategy.

While early figures point to a strong showing for Dr Bawumia, party officials stress that the process remains peaceful, with final results expected after full collation and verification of votes from all constituencies.