Akwatia By-Election Defeat Not Indicative of 2028 – Justin Kodua

General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has downplayed the significance of the party’s loss in the Akwatia by-election, insisting it should not be interpreted as a preview of the 2028 general elections.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Kodua explained that electoral outcomes are naturally uncertain, and Akwatia’s status as a swing constituency meant the result was not surprising.

“In every election, it is either you win or you lose. The Akwatia seat is a swing constituency, and whichever party wins does so by a very small margin,” he said.

He noted that the NPP anticipated a tough contest, particularly as the NDC focused its campaign on promises of development. “For a party in government, the NDC told the people to vote for them based on development. That message influenced some parts of the constituency,” he added.

Despite the defeat, Mr. Kodua highlighted that the 15,235 votes secured by the NPP’s candidate reflected the party’s resilience. “The 15,000 votes we had prove that the NPP is still very strong in Akwatia. I am very happy with our candidate’s performance and the support we received. We will be watching closely to see if the NDC fulfills the promises they made,” he said.

He commended the party’s candidate, constituency executives, and members for their dedication, while expressing gratitude for a peaceful by-election. “This by-election will not bring us down. Above all, we thank God for a successful process,” he remarked.

Mr. Kodua insisted that the result cannot be used to predict the outcome of the 2028 polls. “This by-election is not a reflection of what will happen in 2028. We knew it was going to be a very difficult election for us after the passing of our MP, Ernest Kumi, but the NPP has shown great strength,” he stressed.

Certified results from the Electoral Commission declared the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, winner with 18,199 votes, while the NPP’s Kwame Asumadu polled 15,235.