Members of Parliament from the Middle Belt on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) mounted a spirited public endorsement of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh on Friday, February 27, 2026, declaring him their preferred choice for Running Mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2028 general elections.

The dramatic moment occurred shortly after lawmakers attended President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

As proceedings concluded, a group of MPs from the Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Ahafo zones gathered around NAPO, chanting “y3p3 NAPO, NAPO na y3p3” in a clear show of support.

The slogan, which translates as “We want NAPO, NAPO is who we want”, reverberated through the corridors of Parliament and quickly drew attention from political observers and members of the media.

Repeat the Winning Formula

The endorsement comes at a time when discussions within the party are increasingly focused on strategy for 2028.

In recent weeks, following the NPP presidential primary, a dominant argument among sections of the party has been that the NPP believes in consistency and rewards loyalty to established leadership pairings.

Supporters of the Bawumia–NAPO ticket argue that repeating the 2024 combination would send a strong signal of unity and stability to the electorate.

Ekow Vincent Assafuah, MP for Old Tafo, said the endorsement was both symbolic and strategic.

“The base believes in continuity. We built a strong ticket in 2024 and we must consolidate it. Our tradition has always valued consistency and teamwork,” he noted.

Strategic Regional Backing

The Middle Belt remains one of the most influential blocs within the NPP’s electoral architecture. Strong public backing from MPs in that zone is widely interpreted as an important early indicator of internal alignment.

NAPO’s political roots and long-standing engagement within the regions have strengthened his support base. Allies point to his ministerial record and mobilisation strength as assets that complement Dr Bawumia’s leadership profile.

Although no official decision has been made regarding the vice-presidential nomination, the visible enthusiasm from Middle Belt MPs signals that momentum is building.