Filson Awankua leads Upper East NPP chairmanship race with 46% – YSEN survey

Filson Awankua has emerged as the leading candidate in the race for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Upper East Regional Chairmanship, according to a projected delegates’ preference survey conducted by the Young Social Elite Network (YSEN).

The survey, which sampled 315 selected delegates, puts Mr Awankua at 46 per cent, ahead of Mr Elvis Figo Awunekai with 28 per cent and Dr Moses K. Atinga with 24 per cent.

Hon. Patrick Ayaba and Osman Mahamudu Konkonaba each recorded one per cent in the survey.

YSEN said the survey covered constituency executives, elders, patrons and TESCON representatives across the region, with a reported margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 per cent. The field period was indicated as July 5, 2026.

According to the survey, Mr Awankua’s lead is largely attributed to his grassroots engagement and perceived loyalty to the party.

YSEN said 72 per cent of respondents who favoured Mr Awankua cited his grassroots reach and party loyalty as key factors behind their preference.

The survey further indicated that Mr Awankua leads in eight of the region’s 15 constituencies, with delegates describing him as accessible and highlighting what they considered his grassroots-centred policies, unifying approach and vision.

Mr Elvis Figo Awunekai was ranked second with 28 per cent support. The survey described him as having a strong presence in two constituencies but suggested that he trails among youth and women delegates.

YSEN’s assessment also cited concerns among some delegates about what it described as disappointing performances in previous general elections and the alleged abandonment of party administrative duties in pursuit of parliamentary ambitions.

Dr Moses K. Atinga, who polled 24 per cent, was described as having high name recognition but comparatively lower organisational support.

According to the survey, only eight per cent of respondents considered Dr Atinga the best manager of party affairs.

The two other candidates, Hon. Patrick Ayaba and Osman Mahamudu Konkonaba, each recorded one per cent, with the survey suggesting that most delegates did not currently consider them active contenders in the race.

YSEN also assessed the firmness of support for the leading candidate, indicating that 84 per cent of delegates backing Mr Awankua said they were “firmly decided” and unlikely to change their preference before the party’s congress.

The network’s final projection consequently places Mr Awankua in a strong position to win the regional chairmanship with what it described as a commanding majority, provided he maintains his current level of delegate engagement and messaging.

However, YSEN cautioned that the win percentage could still change, particularly through last-minute activities by other candidates and influential figures within the party establishment.

The projected survey comes as the contest for the NPP Upper East Regional Chairmanship continues to attract attention among party members and stakeholders ahead of the party’s internal elections on August 15, 2026.