Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has observed a significant rise in Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign momentum as the 2024 elections approach. Otchere-Darko believes this surge could play a crucial role in overcoming voter apathy within the party’s base.
Otchere-Darko clarified that while this increasing momentum doesn’t guarantee an election victory for Bawumia, it is a positive sign of growing traction among supporters. “The positive aspect of this poll is it doesn’t mean that Bawumia will win the election. But I think the positive aspect is that it appears his candidacy is gaining traction. And if it’s gaining traction, it should help his base in tackling the apathy that is there,” he explained.
He emphasized that apathy is a significant challenge for any incumbent candidate, with voter dissatisfaction often stemming from unmet expectations. Overcoming this apathy, he noted, is critical for energizing the candidate’s base. “People who voted for you, expectations in this country, like many others, are sometimes too high. So, it’s about apathy, that’s the first difficulty that an incumbent faces. I think that the basic antidote to apathy is your base believing that you can win. If they begin to believe that it is possible that you can win, then they will also be re-energized.”
Otchere-Darko further explained that an incumbent’s biggest challenge is maintaining enthusiasm among supporters, especially when the opposition is naturally more eager for change. “If you’re an incumbent, your biggest fundamental issue will be apathy. How do you energize your base? Because the opposition naturally is hungry for power. So, you expect that naturally, they will be more energized. And then when you’re an incumbent, there are those who think that maybe we haven’t benefited and are unhappy with one or two things.”
A recent survey by Professor Smart Sarpong, Director of Research and Innovation at Kumasi Technical University, shows Bawumia leading as the preferred presidential candidate with 38.9% support for the 2024 general elections. His closest rival, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), follows closely with 36.1% support.
The survey highlights Bawumia’s strong presence in several regions, including Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Central, Eastern, North East, Western, and Western North, suggesting a promising outlook for his campaign as the election season heats up.