Alhaji Hamisu Hong has opposed calls for the review or replacement of the National Democratic Congress candidate for the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, insisting that competence and public acceptance should take precedence over ethnic, religious or geographical considerations.
Hong made his position known while responding to a memorandum seeking a review of the party’s existing candidature, arguing that electoral decisions should be guided by a candidate’s integrity, experience, grassroots support, electability and capacity to represent the constituency effectively.
He rejected the argument that previous electoral outcomes and the distribution of wards should permanently determine who represents the constituency, saying voters’ choices could change with emerging political realities.
“Democracy is dynamic. The fact that Hong has produced more representatives in the past does not automatically mean that only candidates from Hong can win future elections,” he said.
Hong also dismissed claims that Hong’s 12 wards, compared with Gombi’s 10, automatically give candidates from the area an electoral advantage. He said factors such as voter turnout, party structures, popularity, campaign strategy and issues could have greater influence on election results.
He further cautioned against using ethnicity, gender or religion as the basis for determining the suitability of a candidate, saying such considerations could undermine democratic inclusiveness and deny qualified individuals opportunities to serve.
“The central question should not be where the candidate comes from, but whether the candidate possesses the ability to represent the constituency effectively and secure public confidence,” Hong stated.
He urged the NDC leadership to assess the candidate on objective criteria, including competence, leadership record, political experience and grassroots support, warning that an abrupt replacement could deepen internal divisions, demoralise supporters and create perceptions of bias.
Hong added that while political balancing could form part of electoral strategy, it should not override merit and fairness, urging stakeholders to put the interests of the Gombi/Hong constituency above demographic calculations.
0 Comments