Former Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Sammy Crabbe, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia following his victory in the party’s presidential primaries, while calling for unity ahead of the 2028 general elections and announcing his intention to contest for National Chairman.

In a statement issued on Monday, February 2, 2026, Dr Crabbe said, “I extend my warmest congratulations to H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on his victory in the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries held on Saturday, 31st January.”

Dr Bawumia, a former Vice President and long-time economic strategist for the party, secured a clear victory in the national contest, polling 110,643 votes—representing 56.48% of valid votes cast—to become the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 elections. Kennedy Agyapong placed second with 46,554 votes, followed by Dr Bryan Acheampong in third place with 36,303 votes. A total of five candidates contested the primaries, which were described as peaceful, transparent, and credible, with participation from more than 211,000 delegates nationwide.

Dr Crabbe also praised other aspirants, saying: “I also congratulate Kennedy Agyapong for a spirited contest that strengthened our internal democracy, andDr Bryan Acheampong, whose strong third-place finish confirms his growing influence within NPP politics. Congratulations to DDrAdutwum and Ing. Kwabena Agyapong as well. Your fight enriched and strengthened our internal democracy.”

He commended the party apparatus, noting: “I commend the national party executives and elections committee for managing a credible process and thank all patriots who helped make this a success. I thank the Ghana Police Service and the Electoral Commission for ensuring peace, order, and integrity throughout the exercise.”

Crabbe emphasised that attention must now shift to unifying the party ahead of the general election contest, noting: “With the primaries concluded, the real work now begins. The results clearly indicate that the delegates are calling for unity and diversity of thoughts and ideas.”

He stressed that “uniting the party behind Dr. Bawumia for victory in 2028 will require unity, not uniformity,” and added that unity must be grounded in mutual respect: “Unity is built on trust—shaped by fairness, tolerance, inclusion, representation, and the clear sense among members that the party sees them, values them, remembers them, and rewards them fairly.”

Dr Crabbe also acknowledged the concerns of supporters whose enthusiasm dipped in the wake of the party’s 2024 defeat, saying: “Most of our disenchanted supporters have not yet left the party; they are simply disengaged. They are watching closely to see whether we have learned the lessons of the painful 2024 defeat. Words alone will not be enough. We must demonstrate, through systems and action, that the party understands who our members are, what they contribute, and how they fit into the party’s future.”

Highlighting the strategic importance of effective leadership, Crabbe said, "This is why the next set of party executives will be decisive. We have little time and cannot afford trial and error.” He argued for experienced leadership that understands the party at every level: “The party needs experienced leadership that understands the NPP at both the grassroots and national levels and can rebuild trust in a disciplined and fair manner.”

In that spirit, Dr Crabbe announced his intention to contest the party’s National Chairman position ahead of internal elections. “It is in this context that I will be putting myself forward for the position of National Chairman,” he stated.

Outlining his credentials, he said: “I will be running because I am qualified by experience, having served as an organiser in the constituency, as Chairman of the Greater Accra Region, and as a national officer at the highest level of the party.” He continued: “I have led the region; the NPP must rebuild to win again. Greater Accra is central to national success because weak performance there places unsustainable pressure on Ashanti, even as Ashanti's margins are under strain. To win nationally, we must stabilise Ashanti, regain competitiveness in Accra, and strengthen the party across all regions.”

Dr Crabbe concluded on a rallying note: “United in Purpose, Unstoppable in Action! Long live the New Patriotic Party. Victory 2028!”