Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, Mussa Dankwah, has cautioned that any endorsement by President John Dramani Mahama in the race to choose the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer for 2028 could have far-reaching consequences for the party.

“It could have consequences, both plus and negative, and I think we shouldn’t think that we can hoodwink any group of people to go a certain direction. It could have an impact that could be negative or positive,” he stated.

According to him, while Mr Mahama’s influence within the party remains strong, his public support for any aspirant could risk alienating sections of the NDC’s grassroots.

“There are those who will be happy that he has given an endorsement to somebody, and there are those who will feel that the party will be torn apart if he does that,” he explained.

Mr Dankwah pointed to Kenya’s recent political experience as a cautionary tale. “Remember in Kenya, Kenyatta went against Ruto. He went to endorse a candidate, he went but the party didn’t go with him, let that be a lesson,” he warned.

His comments followed the release of a new Global InfoAnalytics poll, which placed Haruna Iddrisu, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, as the leading contender to succeed Mr Mahama as flagbearer.

The poll showed Haruna Iddrisu with 30% support, followed by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia with 24%, and Finance Minister Dr Ato Forson at 18%. Other figures, such as Chief of Staff Julius Debrah and North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, ranked lower.

Mr Dankwah noted that Haruna Iddrisu’s popularity was even stronger in some swing regions, reaching as high as 48% in certain scenarios. However, he warned that if Haruna were not to run, the race would become much tighter between Asiedu Nketia and Ato Forson, raising the risk of internal division if not carefully managed.

The pollster was speaking in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.