Ahead of NPP Flagbearer race:Nitiwul drops ethnic bomb
By:A correspondent
A fresh wave of controversy has hit the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries after comments made by the former Defence Minister and MP for Bimbilla, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, during a meeting with party delegates in the Northern Region.
Addressing Kokomba delegates in his constituency alongside Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Hon. Nitiwul made a series of remarks that many observers say amount to direct ethnic incitement aimed at influencing the presidential primaries.In his address, Hon. Nitiwul repeatedly urged Kokombas across Yendi, Wulensi, Pandai, Bimbilla, Tatale, Zabzugu and neighbouring areas to vote en bloc for Dr Bawumia because, according to him, “Dr Bawumia is the one who likes Kokombas.”He contrasted this with claims that Hon. Kennedy Agyapong “does not like Kokombas”, arguing that only a few Kokombas accompanied Kennedy Agyapong during his recent visit to Yendi, compared to those who welcomed Dr Bawumia.
He further asserted that despite being friends and having served together in Parliament, he “knows Kennedy Agyapong’s character”, adding that Agyapong was not someone Kokombas should trust with their votes.Hon. Nitiwul repeatedly appealed to tribal identity, urging Kokombas not to “disgrace” their northern brother Dr Bawumia by supporting anyone else.
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul
He suggested that Kokombas in several constituencies had already resolved to vote massively for Dr Bawumia and encouraged his audience to do the same.Political analysts have described the comments as a worrying attempt to mobilise votes along ethnic lines, especially at a time when political actors routinely condemn tribal politics in the south while exploiting it in the north.Critics argue that such statements deepen divisions within the party and contradict the NPP’s long-standing stance against tribalism.
Others warn that if left unchecked, this rhetoric could fuel unnecessary tensions both within the primaries and in national politics.
As the NPP prepares for its crucial presidential primaries, Hon. Nitiwul’s comments have added a new layer of controversy, raising questions about whether ethnic appeals are becoming a central strategy in the internal contest.
