New Patriotic Party (NPP) Director of Elections Evans Nimako has dismissed National Democratic Congress (NDC) comments about the NPP flagbearer election, describing their position as contradictory and unclear. Nimako questioned the consistency of government messaging after reports emerged that the NDC established a coalition center to monitor the NPP primary.
Speaking during the Saturday election, Nimako highlighted conflicting statements from NDC officials. He referenced remarks attributed to Mustapha Gbande that contradicted comments made by Dr Rashid Tanko. “Yesterday I heard Mustapha Gbande say the NDC is not, and will never be interested in what the NPP is doing today,” Nimako stated.
The elections director pointed out the apparent disconnect between claiming disinterest and simultaneously setting up monitoring structures. “Yet we are also hearing that they are setting up a coalition to collate our results,” he added. This inconsistency formed the basis of his assertion that the NDC appears confused about its stance toward NPP internal affairs.
Nimako argued that differing positions from party spokespersons reveal a lack of clarity within the NDC camp. “If you listen to Gbande and then listen to Tanko, it tells you the level of confusion they find themselves in,” he said. The NPP official suggested these mixed messages undermine the governing party’s credibility on the issue.
He questioned whether NDC monitoring efforts served any necessary purpose given the NPP’s extensive experience with internal elections. Nimako implied that his party’s organizational capacity for conducting primaries requires no external oversight. “They have put up a coalition booth to collate our results. I think they are learning a lot from us,” he remarked.
The elections director declined to elaborate further, stating that focus should remain on the ongoing voting process. “That’s all I would say,” he concluded. His brief comments nonetheless highlighted partisan tensions surrounding the opposition party’s internal democratic exercise.
The NDC currently holds government power following its victory in the 2024 general elections. Its interest in NPP primary results likely stems from strategic calculations about potential opponents in 2028. Different NDC officials may have varying views on how publicly to engage with opposition party processes.
Nimako’s critique reflects broader competitive dynamics between Ghana’s two main political parties. The NPP seeks to demonstrate strong internal organization as it rebuilds following its 2024 electoral defeat and prepares for the next national contest.
