John Boadu files for NPP chairman race as October election takes shape
Former NPP General Secretary John Boadu has formally entered the party's race for national chairman, days after a survey put him ahead of his main named rivals. The party will elect its national executives on October 3, with nearly half of those surveyed still undecided about their preferred candidate.
Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has formally entered the race to become the party's National Chairman, ahead of its national executive elections in October.
Mr Boadu filed his nomination at the NPP's national headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra on Thursday, August 27.
He was accompanied by several supporters, including the MPs for Fanteakwa and Trobu, the NPP Volta Regional Chairman and former MPs.
The nomination comes as the contest for the party's national leadership gathers momentum ahead of the October 3 elections.
Mr Boadu is one of several candidates seeking the chairmanship, a position that is expected to be closely contested as the NPP prepares for its national executive elections.
His entry follows a Global InfoAnalytics survey released on August 20 which placed him ahead of two other prominent contenders: former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko.
Among NPP voters surveyed, Mr Boadu received 27% support, compared with 15% for Mr Agyarko and 10% for Mr Afoko.
But the figures also point to a race that remains open.
Almost half of respondents 47% did not name a preferred candidate, leaving a substantial group of undecided voters whose choices could affect the outcome.
Mr Boadu also recorded the highest favourability rating among the three candidates named in the survey.
Some 61% of respondents viewed him favourably, while 12% viewed him unfavourably, giving him a net favourability rating of 49%.
Mr Agyarko had a 50% favourable rating and 17% unfavourable rating, while
Mr Afoko recorded 50% favourable and 18% unfavourable ratings.
The regional breakdown also put Mr Boadu ahead of the two other named candidates in several regions, including Bono East, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Upper East and Central.
Mr Agyarko remained competitive in some of those regions, recording 23% in Bono East, 22% in Greater Accra and 21% in the Central Region.
However, the survey does not determine the election outcome. Its findings represent the preferences of those surveyed and, with a large proportion yet to choose a candidate, the eventual result could still shift as campaigning intensifies.
Mr Boadu's formal nomination therefore adds a new stage to a contest in which candidates will now have to convert early support into votes among the party's electorate.
The October 3 national executive elections will determine who takes control of key positions within the NPP as the party seeks to strengthen its organisation and leadership.