Aspiring National 1st Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bright Essilfie-Kumi, says his vetting was successful and he is hopeful of victory to make the NPP bright again ahead of the 2028 elections.
Speaking to journalists after facing the party’s National Vetting Committee at the NPP headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, the three-time aspirant said the panelists are seasoned party elders who asked deep questions about how to strengthen the party.
“Today’s experience has been very successful, very effective. The panelists are not people you can joke about. These are seniors in our party who are actually throwing questions, and you know that as young as you are, virtually the seniors know more than you, but of course, because we have also deep-seated knowledge and we have learnt much, and of course, practically we have worked tirelessly for the party from 1996, it was easy to actually transition. They actually asked of some of the plans that I have. I laid down the policies which I’ve spoken about to the general public already. So today has been very successful, and of course, I am hopeful that victory is on the way. We will make NPP bright again,” he said.
Bright Essilfie-Kumi, said contesting for a party position is not about salary but about service, which is why he keeps coming despite losing twice.
“This is another thing, going for elections at a political party level doesn’t give salary or doesn’t have anything that after you have won, or the investment you have put in terms of your campaign, it’s a democratic process. So once we have done that, there is no salary or something waiting for you. So once I have gone, I lost. I came again, and I’m coming for the third time. That should tell you about the issue of service, the desire to serve,” he explained.
According to him, the current situation of the NPP demands the right leaders, not leaders chosen based on money or longevity.
“Currently, where we stand as a party in terms of about 60 seats to take from the sitting government, with all the resources and all the institutions on their side, it is important that delegates should know that this time around we are supposed to choose the right leaders. It is not about what somebody gave. It is not about the size of anybody, or it’s somebody who has been there for long,” he stated.
He said the 2028 election is the most difficult in the NPP’s history because the party has never had to take more than 60 seats from a sitting government to win power.
“We have never lost by this margin like this before, and we have more than 60 seats to take from a sitting government. We need leaders who are active, who can go out there and make sure we bring victory in 2028 for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,” he stressed.
Reflecting on why he stepped down in 2018, Bright Essilfie-Kumi said it was for the sake of regional balance and party interest.
“In 2018, I think that it was an issue of balance in terms of regional balance. There was only one Ashanti person in, and we were many from Central Region. So if you think about the party, you rather step down for the stronghold to also have an executive. It is not just the desire to occupy a position; it’s about service. So I rather thought of the party first before myself,” he recalled.
He said in 2022 he went for National Organizer and did not step down, but was not given the nod, and he believes now is the time to make the NPP bright again.
The aspirant said with the NPP now having only about 87 seats in Parliament against the NDC’s 186, the party needs active, knowledgeable and bold leaders.
“At the moment we are in dire straits based on the number of seats we have in parliament, which is about 87, and NDC has about 186. So for you to be able to get all the numbers in terms of parliamentary seats, we need active leaders who have knowledge and know-how of the problem and the solution that they can apply to it. And I feel I’m in the capacity to do so,” he said.
His key message to delegates ahead of the October 3 National Delegates Conference in Kumasi is to vote for the right leadership.
“My key message to the delegates is that it is important we choose the right leaders. Now that we are in a very serious situation, we have lost a lot of seats. I have always put myself out there for you guys to really make me an executive member to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the job is on the ground. It is not by words. It is not by acclamation in public,” he said.
He attributed the party’s decline from 2016 to 2024 to leadership failure, noting that the NPP dropped from 53% in 2016 to 51% in 2020 and lost by about 10% in 2024.
“So I am saying on authority that vote for Brightest, when the time comes on the 3rd of October, and the party will be bright again. We are moving forward to victory in 2028 for Dr. Bawumia,” he concluded.
The NPP will converge at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on October 3, 2026 to elect new national executives to lead the party’s reorganization.
