'Veep has chosen Haruna Iddrisu as her running mate' – Afenyo-Markin alleges

play videoVice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (L) and Haruna Iddrisu (R) hugging at an event

The Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has alleged that Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has chosen the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, as her running mate ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Speaking at a press conference on January 26, 2026, Afenyo-Markin hinted that the Vice President sees Haruna, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, as her best suitor for the upcoming elections.

He further alleged that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is divided, with the party having its candidate while the presidency is also fielding its own candidate for the elections.

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“The NDC is divided because of power. Today, Asiedu Nketiah says he is going on a ‘thank you’ tour; now, the Vice President also wants to become president. Recently, we heard that she has chosen Haruna Iddrisu as her running mate,” he said.

He added, “We have also heard that the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, is going to contest, and his running mate is Fifii Kwetey, the NDC General Secretary.”

Meanwhile, a new opinion poll conducted by political analyst Mussa Dankwa indicates that Haruna Iddrisu is the NDC’s most preferred potential presidential candidate ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The poll, which disaggregates voter preferences by educational background, shows Haruna Iddrisu consistently outperforming key party figures, including NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and other leading party stalwarts.

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According to the poll results, Haruna Iddrisu emerges as the leading choice across most educational categories surveyed:

JHS level respondents: Haruna Iddrisu leads with 31%, ahead of Ato Forson (26%), Nketiah (20%), and Opoku Agyemang 12%.

SHS respondents: Asiedu Nketiah tops the list with 26%, narrowly ahead of Haruna Iddrisu (25%), Forson (23%), and Opoku Agyemang 9%.

Tertiary-educated respondents: Haruna records 29%, the highest in this category, followed by Nketiah and Forson at 23% each, and Opoku Agyemang at 8%.

Respondents with no formal education: Haruna Iddrisu posts his strongest showing here with 36%, significantly ahead of Forson (20%) and Nketiah (19%).

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The poll also captured support levels for other prominent NDC figures, including Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who recorded modest figures, peaking at 8% among tertiary respondents, and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who polled between 4% and 7%.

NDC race according to NDC voters by education level. pic.twitter.com/4DYQWHx3Pv

— Mussa K. Dankwah, MSc.FCCA, DipIFR, MCISI,AIRM (@MKDankwah) January 11, 2026