The Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has said it is premature for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to engage in discussions about the party’s next flagbearer despite the recent Global Info Analytics poll.
Speaking on The KeyPoints on TV3, Saturday, October 5, Suhuyini stressed that the NDC’s current priority is ensuring that the Mahama-led administration fulfills its mandate.
“For us in the NDC, we think it is too early. We are focused on delivering President Mahama’s agenda and resetting this country. Our attention should not be diverted by anything other than delivering on our mandate,” he stated.
His comments followed explanations from Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global Info Analytics, who said the survey on potential NDC presidential hopefuls was narrowed to Haruna Iddrisu, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Julius Debrah, and Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, since they each scored 10% or more in tracking polls.
The poll results put Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu in the lead with 30%, followed by NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia with 24%, Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson with 18%, and former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah with 10%. Other names including Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Eric Opoku, Joshua Alabi, Armah Kofi-Buah, Kwame Awuah-Darko, Spio Garbrah, and Okoe Vanderpuye recorded lower percentages.
Further simulations showed that without Ato Forson, Haruna Iddrisu would command 45% support against Asiedu Nketia’s 37% and Debrah’s 18%. In a scenario excluding Haruna, however, the race narrows significantly between Asiedu Nketia (40%) and Forson (38%), with Debrah at 22%.
Meanwhile, in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Global Info Analytics’ latest poll revealed that former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leads the party’s flagbearership race with 47% support from delegates. Kennedy Agyapong trails as his closest rival, though a large number of undecided delegates leaves room for shifts in the contest.
Analysts suggest that unless Agyapong can convert undecided delegates, Dr. Bawumia’s commanding lead will remain difficult to challenge.
