Robert Kutin
Robert Kutin Jnr., is likely to win the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairmanship position in the Central Region, as opinion polls suggest he might garner 70 percent of the total valid votes.
The party will hold its regional delegates’ conference at Kasoa in the Awutu Senya Constituency on April 22, 2018 to elect various executives to lead the party for the next four years.
A recent poll reportedly conducted by Africa Firm for Survey and Research (AFSUR) appears to put Mr Robert Kutin Jnr in a ‘comfortable lead,’ as he is projected to win the slot by 70 percent.
The survey, reportedly conducted in all the 23 constituencies in the region, solicited responses from a total of 230 people – representing 10 respondents who are constituency executives from each constituency.
The AFSUR survey further revealed that 8 out of the 9 candidates in Chairman Kutin’s team are highly projected to win their respective positions.
DAILY GUIDE understands that the survey was based on four key voter concerns namely, commitment of an aspirant towards party work prior to the 2016 elections in the region; contribution of an aspirant towards election 2016 in the region; leverage to the corridors of power and loyalty to the party.
It indicated that Mr Kutin polled 159 votes, representing 70 percent, whilst his other contenders – Benjamin Ayeh, shall get 65 votes, making 27 percent and E.K. Dadson will manage a paltry five votes, representing 3 percent.
Endorsements
The survey report is coming at a time when Mr Kutin has received massive endorsements from key grassroots members, party executives, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region.
The results of the survey apparently come as no surprise at all, as several delegates have reportedly suggested that Mr Kutin deserves to go unopposed, taking into account his major contributions to the NPP’s electoral fortunes in the region under his leadership as chairman.
Mr Kutin Jnr is credited for leading the NPP to defeat then ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2016 national polls.
Under his watch, the then opposition party was able to capture 19 of the 23 seats in the Central Region.
DAILY GUIDE understands that the shipping magnate and financier of the NPP has undertaken a cogent campaign in the run-up to the April 22 regional delegates conference in the Central Region and has accordingly articulated his three-point agenda for the region as a welfare programme for constituency and polling station executives; winning 19 seats plus 60 percent presidential votes come 2020 and entrenching Central Region as a stronghold of NPP and extricate the region from the swing pattern.
Other Likely Winners
The survey projected other candidates to win key regional positions, with the 1st vice chairman position likely to go to Horace Ekow Ewusi, who it says, may poll 99 votes, representing 43 percent.
For the 2nd vice chairman race, Frank Hutchful is projected to win by 115 votes, representing 50 percent, whilst Kingsley Karikari Bondzie and Ebo Jackson are to trail him by 100 votes, representing 43 percent and 15 votes, representing 7 percent respectively.
The regional secretary slot is likely to be won by Richard Takyi-Mensah, according to the polls which indicate that he may poll 64 percent.
Sarah Afful, a former DAILY GUIDE reporter, expected to win the regional assistant secretary position according to the polls.
With respect to the regional treasurer contest, the favourite, according to the polls, was Dr Joseph Essibu, 65 percent expected to go his way.
Percy Dennis is expected to win the regional organizer with 52 percent.
Regional Nasara coordinator position is also expected to be won by Abubakar Osuman, who the polls say might get 149 votes, representing 65 percent; the regional women’s organizer election is likely to be won by Charlotte Adwoa Antwi with 97 votes, representing 42 percent, whilst the regional youth organizer slot is likely to be won by Anthony Sackey by 105 votes, making 46 percent.
By Melvin Tarlue