[7][8] Mitchell was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989,[7][9] defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize.

[7] The party was victorious in the 1995 general election, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives, and Mitchell became prime minister.

The NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one-seat parliamentary majority.

In November 2021, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said that the upcoming general elections which are constitutionally due no later than June 2023, will be the last one for him.

Emmalin Pierre served as a public relations professional before being elected to political leader.