We Outperformed the NDC, but 2.1 Million of Our Supporters Did Not Vote

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his disappointment over the outcome of the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, attributing the loss primarily to voter apathy. He revealed that although the party’s campaign efforts indicated a strong chance of victory, 2.1 million of the party’s supporters failed to vote, which significantly impacted the results.

In a recent meeting with NPP communicators, Dr. Bawumia reflected on the party’s extensive campaign efforts across the country, where he observed positive signs of support from the electorate. “We were working hard in all 276 constituencies. The evidence on the ground was clear, and everything pointed towards a possible win,” he said. He emphasized that the party had invested considerable time and energy into campaigning, with high hopes for success. However, when election day arrived, he noted, the voter turnout was unexpectedly low, leaving many perplexed. “On the day of the election, something was off. We wondered why turnout was so low across the country—from Axim to Zebilla. Eventually, we found out that 2.1 million of our supporters decided not to vote, and it was almost as if they had a coordinated decision not to participate,” he lamented.

Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the NPP’s dominance over the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in several aspects of the campaign, particularly in the realm of social media. The NPP’s efforts to reach voters through digital platforms were highly successful, as they outperformed the NDC by a significant margin. “We dominated the NDC on social media, clearly and by far. We managed to achieve this despite not receiving support from some influential media houses, which put us at a disadvantage,” he noted.

However, despite the party’s superior performance on digital platforms, voter apathy proved to be a significant hurdle that ultimately affected the election’s outcome. Dr. Bawumia acknowledged that the NPP’s campaign did everything possible to engage and mobilize the electorate, but the low turnout on election day revealed a serious underlying issue.

In an effort to understand why such a large number of voters abstained from voting, Dr. Bawumia revealed plans for thorough research. “We know exactly who didn’t vote in every polling station, and this is not guesswork. We will follow up on every individual voter who missed the election, polling station by polling station, to gather insights on why they chose not to vote,” he stated. This research will aim to provide a clearer picture of the factors contributing to the low voter turnout, which he believes will be critical for addressing future electoral challenges.

Dr. Bawumia’s candid assessment of the election results comes after the final count showed that John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerged victorious, securing 6,328,397 votes, or 56.55% of the total vote. Dr. Bawumia, on the other hand, received 4,657,304 votes, or 41.61%, resulting in a margin of 1,671,093 votes in favor of Mahama. Although Dr. Bawumia was forced to concede defeat just hours after the polls closed, he expressed his pride in the work the NPP put into the campaign and the widespread support it received, despite the disappointing result.

In his remarks, Dr. Bawumia underscored the need for a detailed analysis of the election to understand the reasons behind the voter apathy, which he believes played a crucial role in the NPP’s loss. He emphasized that the NPP’s efforts should not be overlooked, as the party made significant strides in various areas, especially in its social media engagement. However, he pointed out that voter participation is a critical element in any election, and the lack of turnout will need to be addressed moving forward.

Looking ahead, Dr. Bawumia called for a comprehensive investigation into the reasons for the low voter turnout and expressed his determination to ensure that the party learns from the experience. He concluded by reiterating that while the election outcome was disappointing, the NPP would continue to focus on improving its strategies and engaging with its supporters in future elections.