NPP Targets 5–6 Seats in Upper East as Ayine Vows to End NDC’s 15-Seat Dominance

By – Sadat Dabo 

NPP Upper East Regional Secretary Daniel Nsobila Ayine says the party is targeting between five and six parliamentary seats in the region in the 2028 general elections, admitting that dislodging the NDC from its current dominance will be difficult but insisting that the opposition party is determined to rewrite the political history of the Upper East Region

Mr Ayine made the declaration during an exclusive interview with Abagna Jose Nelson on URA Sunrise on GBC URA Radio 89.7MHz in Bolgatanga, where he outlined the party’s strategy for selecting parliamentary candidates and rebuilding its electoral fortunes ahead of the 2028 election

The NPP currently holds no parliamentary seat in the Upper East Region, with the NDC controlling all 15 constituencies

However, Mr Ayine believes the party can break the NDC’s dominance if it presents candidates who are accessible, credible, development-oriented and deeply connected to their constituents

He acknowledged the difficulty of the task, stressing that the regional leadership was not entertaining unrealistic expectations of capturing all 15 seats but had set a target of winning between five and six constituencies

“We know we have a daunting task ahead of us, but we are not relenting. We are working tirelessly to see how we can overturn it,” he stated

NPP wants candidates who are the opposite of current NDC MPs

In what could become a major campaign message for the NPP ahead of the 2028 elections, Mr Ayine accused some NDC Members of Parliament in the region of being inaccessible and failing to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the development needs of their constituents

He argued that the NPP must present candidates who live among the people, understand their challenges and remain accessible rather than politicians who only appear during election campaigns

“We need to bring people that have the hearts of the people. We need to bring people that sleep with the people, that dress with the people. We need to bring people that care for the people of Upper East,” he said.

He cited the conduct of some sitting MPs, whom he claimed visit their constituencies quietly and leave without giving constituents adequate opportunities to engage them

According to him, the NPP believes that presenting a different breed of parliamentary candidates could help the party win back the confidence of voters.

No imposition of parliamentary candidates – Ayine

Addressing concerns about alleged attempts by regional executives to impose preferred candidates on constituencies, Mr Ayine categorically dismissed the claims

He maintained that neither the regional chairman nor the regional secretary had the constitutional authority to handpick parliamentary candidates for the party

He explained that the party would prioritise consensus-building and dialogue where possible, but constituencies that fail to reach agreement would be allowed to select their candidates through the appropriate electoral process

Ayine challenges NDC MPs over abandoned development projects

The NPP Regional Secretary also used the interview to renew criticism of the NDC government and its parliamentary representatives over what he described as the region’s persistent infrastructure and human resource development challenges

He specifically referenced the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road, particularly the unfinished stretch, which he described as a dangerous dirt track that continues to expose commuters to serious risks

He questioned why a region with 15 NDC MPs, including individuals who have held influential government positions, continues to struggle with major infrastructure projects

Mr Ayine defended the previous NPP administration’s development record, citing the Tono Dam rehabilitation and water expansion project, phases of the Upper East Regional Hospital project, the Tanzui–Naga road and the Navrongo–Naga–Kulgo road

He also maintained that the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom road was substantially completed under the previous administration before financial difficulties associated with the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme affected its completion

He accused the current government of failing to fulfil its campaign commitment to complete the road, alleging that contractors’ brief return during President John Mahama’s regional tour was merely cosmetic

He said the regional executives were committed to transparency, communication and bringing all factions together to prevent internal disagreements from undermining the party’s chances in 2028

He further acknowledged that the leadership would be deeply disappointed if the party failed to win parliamentary seats after investing considerable effort in its reorganisation

The interview comes at a critical period for the NPP as it seeks to rebuild its political fortunes in a region where the NDC has maintained a strong parliamentary grip

With a target of five to six seats, the big question remains whether the NPP can translate its promises of new leadership, grassroots mobilisation, consensus-building and candidate credibility into actual parliamentary victories

Source – gbcuraonline.com