NAPO’s running mate bid: NIB report reveals 89% of NPP supporters are indifferent

A confidential report conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) on the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) selection of a running mate has been leaked to the media, sending shockwaves through the political landscape.

The report, which was based on a nationwide survey of 5,116 party members over two days in mid-June, reveals significant insights into the party's internal dynamics and preferences.

The survey purportedly aimed to gauge support for Dr. Yaw Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, who currently serves as the Minister responsible for Energy and hails from Manhyia South in the Ashanti Region.

Initial speculation suggested strong backing for NAPO among party members, with some reports indicating up to 70 percent support for his candidacy as the running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party's flagbearer.

However, the leaked report paints a different picture, revealing that 84 percent of respondents viewed NAPO as the optimal pairing for Dr. Bawumia and 88 percent perceiving him as the party’s preferred choice. Surprisingly, 89 percent expressed openness to considering any other candidate selected by Dr. Bawumia.

This revelation challenges earlier assumptions and underscores the flexibility among party members regarding the selection of a running mate.

Critics have seized upon the leaked report to question the methodology and conclusions drawn by the NIB.

Some party members and political analysts have accused the NIB of bias, suggesting that the survey may have been designed to favor NAPO by limiting respondents' choices primarily to him and a few other candidates, thus potentially skewing the results.

Moreover, the report has sparked a broader debate about transparency and inclusivity within the NPP's decision-making processes.

Questions have been raised about the exclusion of prominent female figures from consideration, despite their notable contributions to the party.

In response to the leaked report, voices from within the party have expressed varying opinions. While some continue to support NAPO's candidacy, others have criticized what they perceive as an attempt to pressure Dr. Bawumia into selecting NAPO as the running mate.

The leaked NIB report has not only exposed internal rifts within the NPP but has also ignited a fierce debate about fairness and the integrity of the party's nomination process.

With the election season looming, all eyes are on the NPP leadership as they navigate these turbulent waters in the pursuit of electoral success.