Ben Ephson, a pollster, has endorsed Charles Opoku, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate in the by-election for Assin North, predicting that Mr Opoku will defeat James Gyakye Quayson of the National Democratic Congress.
In an interview with Joy News, Mr. Ephson stated that although the election is close, the factors favor the New Patriotic Party.
Mr. Ephson based his prediction on the premise that Mr. Quayson's victory in the 2020 elections was primarily attributable to his ties to Assin Bereku, his birthplace, which contains the largest number of voters in the constituency.
However, this advantage has been diminished because Mr. Opoku, the NPP candidate, is also from the same town.
Furthermore, Mr. Ephson argued that the NDC's reliance on "sympathy votes" has been hampered by the Accra High Court's decision to allow Mr. Quayson to continue campaigning while his criminal trial is ongoing.
Mr. Quayson's chances have been diminished as a result of the court's decision, which has diminished the potential influence of the campaign for sympathy ballots.
Regarding Mr. Opoku's prospects, Mr. Ephson emphasized the candidate's preparation for politics over the past few years, including his participation in a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been involved in a variety of activities.
This preparation provides an advantage to Mr. Opoku in the by-election. Mr. Ephson recommended betting on the NPP candidate, despite the closeness of the race.
In the previous election, Mr. Quayson was from Assin Bereku, while his opponent was from another region, according to the pollster.
The female candidate at Assin Bereku had conflicts with some NPP executives, resulting in her exclusion this time.
With both candidates hailing from Assin Bereku and the prominent female candidate campaigning for the NPP in a different city, the NPP candidate has received additional support.
Mr. Ephson also mentioned Mr. Opoku's charitable efforts in Assin North, thereby enhancing his prospects.
The by-election in Assin North is viewed as a midterm election to determine the popularity of the two major political parties prior to the 2024 general election.