Haruna Mohammed, the Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has refuted allegations that the party’s national leadership is facilitating public endorsements of candidates in anticipation of the 2026 presidential primaries.
During an interview on Monday, June 23, Haruna responded to increasing speculation that arose following a public endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by a collective of former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). He emphatically asserted that the party leadership is not involved in promoting or coordinating such endorsements.
“…People are saying, but it is a rumor, and sometimes it is very difficult to speak to rumors. And I can tell you, on authority, that the party leadership certainly does not have a hand in anybody’s declaration,” he remarked.
He emphasized that while party members are entitled to show support for any candidate, such expressions should comply with the party’s internal regulations and be conveyed with respect.
“We are dealing with adults, and they have their right to their position and expression. In expressing such opinions on particular decisions, we must also be guided by certain rules of the game,” he continued.
Haruna reaffirmed that the national leadership is maintaining neutrality at this point in the process. “We are not in any way putting up people to go about declaring people. Leadership is always minded, and we are not behind the statement,” he underscored.
His remarks follow a press conference conducted at the Alisa Hotel in Accra by a coalition of 220 former MMDCEs who served under the NPP administration from 2017 to 2024. This group, known as the Forum of Former MMDCEs for Dr. Bawumia, publicly declared their support for the former Vice President as the party’s preferred candidate for the 2028 general elections.
