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Renowned pollster, Ben Ephson, has made a prediction that Charles Opoku, the candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will emerge victorious in the upcoming Assin North by-election, defeating James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In an interview with Joy News, Ephson stated that although the election is closely contested, the factors at play favor the NPP.
Ephson based his prediction on the observation that Gyakye Quayson had won the 2020 elections largely due to his origin in Assin Bereku, which holds the largest number of voters in the constituency. However, the situation has changed with the NPP’s candidate, Charles Opoku, also hailing from the same town.
Ephson also highlighted that the NDC’s campaign for “sympathy votes” has been affected by the Accra High Court’s decision to allow Gyakye Quayson to campaign during his ongoing criminal trial. This ruling has diminished his chances of garnering sympathy votes.
In contrast, Ephson noted that Opoku, the NPP candidate, has been actively involved in politics through his NGO, which has engaged in various activities over the past few years. This gives him an advantage. Ephson advised that if one were to take a gamble, the safer bet would be on the NPP candidate, although he acknowledged that the race is too close to call.
The Assin North by-election is considered a mid-term election to assess the popularity of the two main political parties ahead of the 2024 general elections. James Gyakye Quayson of the NDC is seeking to retain the seat he won in 2020, while Charles Opoku represents the NPP.
The by-election was necessitated by a Supreme Court ruling that declared the 2020 elections in the constituency null and void due to Gyakye Quayson’s dual citizenship status.
source:ghstandard.com