National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has widened his lead in the party’s race for the 2028 presidential flagbearer position, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by Africa Policy Lens (APL).
The June 2026 survey, carried out between June 24 and July 3, interviewed 3,540 NDC constituency and branch executives across all 276 constituencies. It found Asiedu Nketiah leading the field with 33.8% of first-preference support, an increase from 31.9% recorded in APL’s April survey.
The most significant gain was made by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, whose support rose to 22.5%, up from 17.9% in April, moving him into second place.
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson also improved his standing, increasing his support from 13.0% to 15.1% to secure third position.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah recorded the sharpest decline among the leading contenders. His support dropped from 30.1% in April to 9.7% in June, pushing him down the rankings.
According to APL, the latest findings suggest the race has evolved from what appeared to be a two-horse contest in April into a more clearly defined field led by Asiedu Nketiah, with Haruna Iddrisu emerging as his principal challenger.
The report also noted that Asiedu Nketiah is the candidate most frequently identified by delegates as the leading contender in the race, further reinforcing his position as the current frontrunner.
Beyond candidate preferences, the survey found that NDC delegates are placing greater emphasis on leadership qualities than campaign visibility.
Respondents identified experience and a proven track record, personal integrity and honesty, the ability to unite the party, and grassroots appeal as the most important factors in selecting the party’s next presidential candidate.
Race Still Competitive
Despite Asiedu Nketiah’s lead, APL said the contest remains open, noting that support for both Haruna Iddrisu and Cassiel Ato Forson increased between April and June.
The research was conducted through structured telephone interviews with politically active constituency and branch executives drawn from across the country. APL said the sample reflects broad national representation and a high level of electoral participation within the party.
The organisation cautioned that the findings represent a snapshot of grassroots sentiment during the survey period rather than a prediction of the eventual outcome.
The NDC is expected to hold its presidential primary in 2027 to elect its flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
