Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Hamza Suhuyini, has cautioned party operatives against diverting attention from governance to premature discussions about the 2028 flagbearer race.
He stressed that the party’s priority must be to fulfil its mandate to Ghanaians, following its victory in the 2024 elections under President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking in response to a new Global InfoAnalytics poll suggesting Tamale South MP Hon. Haruna Iddrisu as the leading contender to succeed President Mahama, Suhuyini said the NDC must remain grounded in its responsibility to deliver tangible results.
“For us in the NDC, I think that the objective now is to stay true to the social contract that we signed with the good people of this country, based on which they gave us an overwhelming mandate on 7th December 2024. That should be the focus of any operative of the NDC, and of course His Excellency John Dramani Mahama”
Hamza Suhuyini, NDC Communications Team Member
Suhuyini maintained that President Mahama’s performance in office would be decisive not only for his legacy but also for the party’s long-term political trajectory, adding that success in governance would be the best campaign message for the NDC heading into 2028.
The NDC communicator emphasised that the party must resist any temptation to engage in early leadership speculation, which risks undermining the administration’s focus on delivery. Suhuyini insisted that governance must take precedence over succession politics if the party is to maintain public confidence.
The latest Global InfoAnalytics survey showed Hon. Haruna Iddrisu leading the race to become the NDC’s next flagbearer with 30% support, followed by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia with 24%, and Finance Minister Hon. Ato Forson with 18%. Other names, including Julius Debrah and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, registered lower support.
The same poll also suggested that without Hon. Haruna Iddrisu in the race, Asiedu Nketia and Hon. Ato Forson would run neck and neck, particularly among the party’s core supporters and in key swing regions.
While the findings have triggered internal excitement, Suhuyini’s comments served as a reminder that polls should not distract from the party’s governing responsibilities. He said the NDC’s focus must remain on delivering on its manifesto commitments, from job creation to infrastructure and economic recovery, rather than internal competition.
Bawumia’s Advantage in NPP Race
In a related political development, Global InfoAnalytics also revealed new insights into the opposition New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer race. According to the poll, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia continues to dominate his party’s field ahead of the 2028 elections.
Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, explained that Bawumia’s commanding lead is largely driven by two key factors.
“One, Bawumia has been the face of the NPP since 2008. He’s been on every election ticket since then. So he is the familiar face for many people. That makes it easier for him to be organised and more likely for people to want him back on the ticket”
Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics
The poll showed Dr. Bawumia leading the NPP presidential race with 57% support among general voters, compared to 29% for his closest contender, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong. Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum followed with 6%, while Dr. Bryan Acheampong and Kwabena Agyapong polled 5% and 3% respectively.
Dankwah attributed much of Dr. Bawumia’s strength to the conservative tendencies of NPP delegates.
“The NPP delegates are conservatives. They are much older people, and the older you are, the less vibrant and dynamic and change-oriented you tend to be. These people want to go with what they know, and they kind of dominate the NPP”
Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics
Among party delegates, Dr. Bawumia currently leads with 47%, followed by Kennedy Agyapong with 17%, while 27% remain undecided. Dankwah suggested that Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign could still make inroads if he succeeds in reframing the conversation. “He has to drive home a message that challenges this status quo and changes the mindset of these voters,” he said.
In key battleground regions such as Greater Accra, Central, and Western, Bawumia maintains a strong edge, polling at 57% against Agyapong’s 32%. The data also indicates that in a potential runoff, Dr. Bawumia would secure 62% of the vote compared to Agyapong’s 38%, consolidating his position as the dominant force within the NPP.
As both major parties navigate their internal political landscapes, analysts say the difference lies in focus. While the NPP faces a contest of loyalty and conservatism, the NDC must balance ambition with performance to sustain public trust.
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