NPP Race: Analysing Ken Agyapong and Justin Kodua's reaction to Wontumi vs Abronye allegations

The internal struggle for the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) flagbearer slot continue to intensify, with the campaign team of Kennedy Agyapong formally demanding disciplinary action against two high-profile regional chairmen: Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) of the Ashanti Region and Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC) of the Bono Region.

The call for sanctions, issued in a statement on September 28, 2025, stems from viral videos in which Wontumi and Abronye allegedly claimed that the party's electoral register and processes were being manipulated to favour a specific candidate ahead of the January 2026 presidential primaries.

Team Ken argues these remarks constitute "gross anti-party conduct" and a violation of the NPP constitution, demanding that the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council summon the two chairmen immediately.

The Integrity Challenge:

The core of the issue is the credibility of the upcoming primaries. By alleging manipulation, Wontumi and Abronye, who hold influential positions as members of both the NEC and the National Council, have introduced a major point of contention.

Ken Agyapong's campaign demands sanctions against Wontumi, Abronye over 'anti-party conduct'

Team Ken's insistence that the party must "go beyond dissociating itself" and implement sanctions highlights a strategic move to force the leadership to vigorously defend the integrity of the process.

For the Agyapong campaign, anything less than disciplinary action would validate the perception that the process is compromised.

NPP Leadership's Response:

In a swift counter-response also released on September 28, NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, attempted to contain the damage.

He officially distanced the party from the chairmen’s "reckless utterances," emphasising that their views do not reflect the party's official position.

Kodua strongly affirmed that the compilation of the polling station album follows "strict and transparent procedures," and no single individual has control over the process.

Crucially, the leadership dismissed Chairman Wontumi's specific claim that the timing of the primaries was set to favour a particular aspirant.

Kodua reiterated that the National Council decided on the early date in the party's "supreme interest," aiming to allow ample time for reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Analysis of the Standoff:

This public spat exposes deep fault lines within the NPP as the primaries approach.

1. Credibility vs Unity: The party leadership is walking a tightrope. While it must maintain the integrity and perceived fairness of the electoral process (as emphasised by the General Secretary), it also needs to prevent internal division by sanctioning two powerful regional chairmen. Team Ken's public demand forces a choice: prioritise institutional credibility by punishing misconduct or prioritise party unity by issuing a warning.

2. Strategic Pressure: Team Ken's statement serves a dual purpose. First, it addresses the specific allegations of manipulation. Second, it exerts political pressure on the NEC to demonstrate neutrality, ensuring that the primaries are perceived as a level playing field. If the party fails to act decisively, the Agyapong campaign may leverage this as evidence of an unfair process.

3. The Role of Regional Chairs: The incident underscores the outsized influence of regional chairmen like Wontumi in NPP politics. Their public comments, even if officially disowned, carry significant weight with grassroots members, making the need for a strong disciplinary response critical to reassure the broader party membership of the process's fairness.

NPP distances itself from statements by Wontumi, Abronye

Ultimately, the NPP leadership's decision whether to follow the Agyapong team's recommendation for sanctions or rely solely on dissociation will be a major test of its commitment to internal democracy and will likely shape the narrative and credibility of the 2026 presidential primaries.

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