Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot afford to gamble with a first-time presidential candidate in the 2028 elections.

The Bimbilla MP warned that another defeat would be disastrous for the party.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, Mr Nitiwul said the stakes for the NPP are too high, and the party must choose a candidate with proven national exposure and electoral experience.

“I can tell you, in this election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is going to win. That I can tell you for a fact that in this election [NPP primaries], Dr Bawumia is going to win, just like Akufo-Addo won for a second time in 2010 and then for a third time in 2014, Bawumia is going to win,” he said.

His comments come amid debates within the NPP over succession and strategy ahead of the 2028 general election, following the party’s loss of power in 2024. Several names have been mentioned as possible contenders, raising questions about whether the party should reset with a new face or return to a familiar one.

Mr Nitiwul said his position is not meant to diminish the credentials of other potential aspirants.

“That is not to take away anything from another candidate, whether it’s Ken, Bryan, Adutwum or Kwabena Agyapong, it’s not to take anything away from that candidate,” he said.

However, he argued that time is not on the party’s side and that selling a fresh candidate to the electorate would be risky.

“All I can say is that it has been marketed enough. We don’t have time to market a new candidate.”

He said Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has already undergone intense public scrutiny and emerged without any damaging findings.

“He has shown that he’s very competent, not corrupt, and there’s nothing to find about Bawumia anymore,” he said.

According to Mr Nitiwul, the opposition has exhausted its attacks, and the public has already formed its judgment.

“Whatever the NDC wants to say, they have said it already. The assessment Ghanaians have done it already.”

He said the level of public familiarity with Dr Bawumia gives him a major advantage going into 2028.

“We don’t have the time to change all the billboards and change every other thing, which is the one that has given us a clear vision as to what he wants. And the people of Ghana have bought into it.”

Mr Nitiwul also cited Ghana’s electoral history to support his argument.

“And the rule of thumb is always that Ghanaians have never voted for a first timer,” he said.

He said this places Dr Bawumia in a unique position compared to other likely contenders.

“Bawumia is going to be the candidate who is the second timer; all other candidates on the ballot in the 2028 election, especially the major candidates, including the NDC, will be the second timer.”

For the NPP, he said, that distinction is critical. “We cannot risk having our own candidate being a first timer,” he said.

He warned that choosing an untested candidate could cost the party dearly.

“We can’t as an NPP, when you can get somebody who is running for the second time, and the person will win you the elections, we cannot risk it.”

Mr Nitiwul said the consequences of another loss would be severe. “And the difficulty for NPP is that we will, we should never lose in 2028 because it will be disastrous for us.”