Pollster Ben Ephson has stated that latest developments within the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not have any significant impact on the fortunes of the party.
His comments follow the recent suspension of a former deputy general secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho, communication officer Stephen Atubiga and the subsequent dismissal of its Central Regional chairman Allotey Jacobs for various infractions including in discipline and anti-party behaviours.
Speaking in an interview with Beatrice Adu on The Big Bulletin, Ephson refuted claims suggesting the development in the party means the NDC is becoming intolerant of divergent views.
“I don’t think so, the NPP even went further, an elected chairman, general secretary and one vice chairperson, they were all suspended from the party but the party won the 2016 elections. You have the choice of keeping quiet and seeing more cases of indiscipline by putting your foot down,” he said.
Ephson added: “I mean Koku Anyidoho, deputy general secretary, Allotey Jacobs, regional chairman, their stature is big but it is not as big as Afoko, national chairman, Kwabena Agyepong, general secretary and Crabbe, vice chairperson, the NPP’s own was far bigger than the NDC one.”
Mahama is NDC’s best choice for 2024
He believes the NDC may suffer some huge setbacks in the next elections if it makes the mistake of choosing a different flagbearer.
“2024 is about more than three years away, fortunately for the NDC, moving ahead to 2024 I think the only person that majority of the grassroot will rely on to give the NPP a good run for their money is John Mahama if there was nobody like that, the party could be shaken a bit,” he said.
“If the NDC does not take Mahama they will have a difficult time ahead towards 2024 because the NPP has a history of becoming weakened in the aftermath of electing a new flagbearer for the election and 2024 is no different,” the pollster told Adu.
He added: “So if the NDC also decides to have a new candidate they will be at par but with Mahama… what negative thing are you going to say against him that will cause disaffection that you haven’t said in 2016 and 2020. In that case the NDC has a chance of perhaps maintaining Mahama.”
Fred Dzakpata
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