Fresh tension appears to be brewing within the governing National Democratic Congress following controversial remarks by the party’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, which have reportedly triggered anger and disbelief within the camp of Education Minister and Tamale South Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu.
The latest development comes after Mr Asiedu Nketiah publicly declared during a recent political engagement that the NDC’s decision to remove Haruna Iddrisu and Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak from the Minority leadership structure ahead of the 2024 elections was a major factor behind the party’s electoral victory.
Speaking during his ongoing “Thank You Tour,” the NDC chairman defended the controversial parliamentary reshuffle that took place in January 2023, insisting that changes to the party’s “forward line” in Parliament were necessary to reposition the NDC for victory.
“New things were emerging and I said that we have to change the forward line of Parliament otherwise it will be difficult for us to win the election,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah stated.
His comments have since generated intense political debate, particularly within sections of the NDC in the Northern Region where Haruna Iddrisu continues to command significant political influence and grassroots loyalty.
The situation reportedly escalated further after Mr Asiedu Nketiah visited the Lamashegu Chief’s Palace, where discussions surrounding his earlier comments allegedly deepened frustrations among supporters of the Education Minister.
A supporter believed to be close to Haruna Iddrisu’s political camp told members of a local news team that many loyalists of the former Minority Leader were shocked and disappointed by the chairman’s remarks.
According to the supporter, members of Haruna Iddrisu’s camp are questioning why the National Chairman would revisit the controversial leadership reshuffle publicly despite efforts by senior party figures to maintain unity after the 2024 elections.
“Why, why, why?” the visibly emotional supporter reportedly asked while reacting to the chairman’s statements.
The source disclosed that an emergency meeting of Haruna Iddrisu’s loyalists was expected to be held at the residence of Chairman Ali Adolf to assess the political implications of the comments and determine the group’s next line of action.
According to the supporter, the camp was also considering addressing the media to officially respond to the controversy and clarify its position.
The latest tensions within 24-hours Haruna Iddrisu himself appeared to subtly respond to Mr Asiedu Nketiah during President John Dramani Mahama’s “Reset Tour” in the Savannah Region.
While addressing party supporters during the presidential event, Haruna Iddrisu described President Mahama’s nationwide engagement as the “proper thank you tour,” a comment many observers interpreted as an indirect jab at Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s separate “Thank You Tour.”
“For his thank you tour, not the other thank you tour, the proper thank you tour of President Mahama,” Haruna Iddrisu remarked.
He further described Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s tour as a “curtain raiser,” fueling speculation about growing rivalry and internal political maneuvering within the ruling party.
The internal tensions are also being linked to wider discussions about potential presidential ambitions within the NDC after President Mahama’s tenure.
Although no official declarations have been made, political observers believe Haruna Iddrisu remains one of the strongest possible contenders for the party’s future presidential race due to his longstanding parliamentary experience, influence in the Northern Region and popularity within sections of the party base.
At the same time, Mr Asiedu Nketiah’s increasing national visibility through his “Thank You Tour” has fueled separate speculation that the veteran party chairman may also be positioning himself strategically for future influence within the party.
The controversy surrounding the 2023 reshuffle continues to remain one of the most sensitive political decisions in recent NDC history.
At the time, the removal of Haruna Iddrisu as Minority Leader and the restructuring of the Minority leadership generated significant backlash from sections of the party, with many supporters accusing the leadership of targeting loyal and experienced figures.
However, following the NDC’s victory in the 2024 elections, President Mahama appointed Haruna Iddrisu as Minister for Education while Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak was also appointed to a senior ministerial position in government.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah has repeatedly maintained that the reshuffle was purely strategic and never motivated by personal hostility.
“There was hell and people started thinking that somebody who has been my friend for more than 20 years has suddenly become my enemy,” he recently said while reflecting on the controversy.
Despite repeated public calls for unity by senior party leaders, the growing tensions between supporters of Haruna Iddrisu and allies of Mr Asiedu Nketiah are likely to deepen political discussions within the NDC as attention gradually shifts toward the party’s future leadership and the 2028 general elections.
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