Aspiring National Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has dismissed opinion polls tracking the party’s leadership contest, insisting that delegates’ votes on October 3 will provide the only meaningful measure of his support.
Speaking on the sidelines of a thanksgiving service for newly elected Ashanti Regional Executives at Gracefields Chapel in the Nhyiaeso Constituency, Mr. Afoko rejected a recent survey by Global InfoAnalytics that placed former NPP General Secretary John Boadu ahead of him in the race .
“I don’t believe in any polls. The only poll I believe in is the October 3 poll here in Kumasi,” Mr. Afoko said, referring to the venue of the party’s National Delegates Conference .
The Poll Numbers
The Global InfoAnalytics survey, released on August 20, 2026, found that 27% of NPP voters preferred John Boadu as National Chairman, compared with 15% for former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and 10% for Mr. Afoko . The poll also noted that a significant 47% of respondents were undecided, describing the race as highly fluid .
Mr. Afoko, however, questioned the reliability of such surveys, arguing that it is impossible to verify whether respondents are being truthful. “All other polls are just speculation. And as they say, you can’t enter into a person’s mind and know whether they are telling you the truth or not,” he said .
The former National Chairman expressed confidence that his message was resonating with delegates across the country, stating that his decision to remain in the contest demonstrated his belief in his chances. “I wouldn’t be here campaigning if I thought I was going to lose,” he added .
Background: A Tumultuous Political History
Mr. Afoko’s return to the party’s top administrative office marks a significant chapter in his political career. He was suspended indefinitely by the NPP’s National Executive Committee in October 2015 following months of internal disagreements within the party’s national leadership .
The party accused him of bringing the NPP into disrepute, failing to cooperate with fellow national executives, disregarding party structures, and engaging in conduct detrimental to the party’s unity . His suspension came against the backdrop of a leadership crisis further aggravated by the May 2015 acid attack that killed the party’s Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama. While Mr. Afoko’s younger brother, Gregory Afoko, was arrested and later convicted in connection with the murder, Paul Afoko was never implicated in the case .
Despite his suspension, Mr. Afoko insists he never abandoned the party, stating that he continued to support candidates and constituencies throughout his time away. “I did not complete my term, that is a matter known to all, but I never abandoned the NPP,” he said in July, adding that his campaign is centred on reconciliation, unity and rebuilding the party’s structures .
The Road to October 3
The NPP has scheduled its National Executive Elections for October 3, 2026, at the Delegates Conference in Kumasi, with the Electoral Commission expected to conduct the process under the supervision of the party’s National Elections Committee . The elections will cover the positions of National Chairperson, Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, Treasurer, Organiser, Women Organiser, Youth Organiser, Nasara Organiser and Communication Director .
In the wake of the party’s presidential primaries, the NPP has been undergoing a structured internal reorganisation process, including a nationwide membership registration drive and polling station-level contests . The party has also revised its election guidelines to improve transparency and strengthen internal democracy, with changes covering polling station and electoral area elections . An ad-hoc committee chaired by former party chairman Peter Mac Manu has been tasked with developing a manual detailing the roles and responsibilities of party officials at all levels .
As the race intensifies, the outcome of the October 3 vote remains open, with nearly half of NPP voters surveyed still undecided . For Paul Afoko, however, the wait will soon be over. “The message is resonating,” he said, remaining confident in his prospects .
