Assin North by-election will be test of popularity – Ben Ephson

Renowned pollster Ben Ephson has stated the yet to be conducted by-election in the Assin North constituency will be a test of popularity between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, the 2020 general elections were an indication that the Ghanaian voter has matured and therefore, this can be a closely contested by-election.

“The NDC will view it as a test of their popularity and it’ll also be viewed as a test of the government’s popularity.”

So, the NPP lost the seat and I think that Gyakye won because of the father’s popularity. Now, if there’s a by-election and Gyakye decides to contest and NDC wins it, they’ll say it’s a continuation of their strength and maybe a reflection of the government.”

“I think that if the NPP wins the by-election, they will have more political advantage that ‘if you say we’re not doing well, we’ve taken a seat, we’ve won.’

Mr. Ephson noted that one of the principles of the 2020 general elections has been that the Ghanaian voter has matured and the swing voters have become any.

“So, the by-election itself will be interesting and will have a lot of political fall-outs,” he added.

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday 13 April 2022 that James Gyakye Quayson cannot hold himself as the Member of Parliament for Assin North in the Central Region.

The seven-member panel presided over by Justice Jones Dotse reached a 5:2 majority decision to injunct Quayson, whose position as an MP has been in dispute since he assumed his seat in January 2021, from going to Parliament.

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