Presidential hopeful and former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has attempted to downplay the controversies that rocked the New Patriotic Party’s 2023 presidential primaries, insisting that this year’s contest will be free of manipulation despite lingering mistrust among party stakeholders.

Speaking at a polling centre in Assin Central on Saturday, January 31, Mr Agyapong expressed confidence that the party had taken adequate measures to prevent rigging, even as memories of violence, confusion, and allegations of unfair practices from previous primaries remain fresh.

“I don’t think there will be a repetition of what happened in 2023,” he said, adding that party actors had “done our job well to prevent rigging and everything.”

However, his remarks appear to gloss over unresolved grievances that continue to fuel internal discontent within the NPP. While calling for unity, Mr Agyapong conceded that internal contests often turn bitter, with language and conduct that can strain party cohesion.

“Sometimes it gets tough, and some words are used which are not palatable,” he admitted, raising questions about whether the party has genuinely addressed the root causes of its internal conflicts.

Despite the tensions, Mr Agyapong urged delegates to rally behind him, appealing for massive votes and promoting his candidacy as “number one.”

The NPP primaries, currently underway nationwide, will determine the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2028 general elections. Mr Agyapong faces stiff competition from former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

As voting continues, doubts persist over whether calls for unity and assurances of fairness will translate into reality — or whether the party is headed for yet another divisive internal showdown.