The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has warned that disunity remains the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) “slow poison,” stressing that internal divisions have consistently undermined the party’s chances in general elections.
According to him, the NPP has historically lost elections whenever disunity crept into its ranks, regardless of the strength of its message or leadership.
Addressing a convention of key NPP stakeholders in the Effutu Constituency after the party’s flagbearer contest, Afenyo-Markin urged members to rally behind the party’s chosen flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to secure victory in the 2028 general elections.
He charged party members to embrace unity of purpose, message, and vision, insisting that the NPP must speak with one voice and fully commit to carrying the flagbearer’s agenda to the grassroots.
The Minority Leader also cautioned against a repeat of the 2024 elections, where what he described as “skirt and blouse” voting contributed to the party’s defeat.
“But we have to learn from our history when we talk about unity. History has taught us harsh but clear lessons about disunity,” he said.
Tracing the party’s electoral fortunes, Afenyo-Markin recalled that divisions within the Danquah-Busia tradition in 1979, which saw the emergence of the UNC and PFP, paved the way for the PNP under Hilla Limann to win power.
He noted that a similar lack of cohesion contributed to electoral losses in 1992, 1996, 2008, and 2012.
“When our ranks were divided, when factions spoke louder than unity, we lost painfully to the NDC. Each defeat carried a reminder: a divided NPP cannot win, no matter how noble our message is,” he said.
In contrast, he pointed to the party’s victories in 2000, 2004, 2016, and 2020 as evidence that unity remains the key to electoral success.
“But look at the other side of our history. When we stood together as one and rallied behind our leader despite our differences, victory stood with us. The formula for success is therefore clear: unity is the lifeblood of our party; disunity is its slow poison,” he stressed.
Afenyo-Markin concluded by urging party members across the country to commit fully to the task ahead, warning that failure to support the flagbearer would amount to failing the party itself.
“We must not allow the 2024 result to repeat itself, no more ‘skirt and blouse’ voting. If Dr. Bawumia fails, it is we who have failed him. Let us not fail him. Let us work for him, work for the party, and work for our country,” he said.
