Former Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot afford to gamble in the 2028 elections, warning that a loss would be disastrous for the party’s future.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, the Bimbilla MP, Mr Nitiwul, said the stakes for the NPP go beyond winning power.

“And the difficulty for NPP is that we should never lose in 2028 because it will be disastrous for us,” he said.

He argued that the party must avoid presenting a first-time presidential candidate and instead go with someone already tested by the electorate.

“We cannot risk having our own candidate being a first timer,” he said.

Mr Nitiwul said Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains the safest option, insisting the party does not have time to sell a new face to voters.

“We don’t have time to market a new candidate,” he said. According to him, Dr Bawumia has already been assessed by Ghanaians and remains the most viable option.

“I can tell you, in this election [NPP primaries], Bawumia is going to win,” he said.

He said this does not 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,” he said.

He stressed that Dr Bawumia’s long presence on the national stage gives him a decisive advantage.

“All I can say is that it has been marketed enough,” he said.

Mr Nitiwul said the Vice President has already faced sustained political attacks 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.

He added that the opposition has exhausted its criticisms. “Whatever the NDC wants to say, they have said it already,” he said.

According to him, voters have made up their minds. “As for the assessment, Ghanaians have done it already,” he said, citing practical campaign realities.

“We don’t have the time to change all the billboards and change every other thing,” he added.

Mr Nitiwul said Dr Bawumia has already laid out a clear vision that resonates with voters.

“He is the one who has given us a clear vision as to what he wants,” he said, “And the people of Ghana have bought into it.”

He pointed to what he described as a consistent voting pattern in Ghanaian elections.

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

For the NPP, he said, the choice is clear. “We can’t as an NPP, when you can get somebody who is the second time, and the person will win you the elections, we cannot risk,” he said.

He warned again that the cost of failure would be severe, stressing, “We should never lose in 2028,” he said.