By Umar Zubainatu Kambari
Alhaji Hamisu Hong has rejected calls for the review or replacement of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, describing arguments based on ethnicity, geography, gender and religion as inconsistent with democratic principles.
In a response to a memorandum advocating a review of the party’s current candidature, Hong argued that electoral decisions should be based primarily on competence, integrity, grassroots acceptance, electability and the ability of a candidate to effectively represent the people.
He said historical voting patterns and the geographical distribution of wards should not be treated as permanent determinants of electoral outcomes.
According to him, the fact that previous representatives of the constituency came predominantly from Hong Local Government Area does not mean future representation must follow the same pattern.
“Democracy is dynamic. Electoral outcomes change as voter priorities evolve. 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 challenged the argument that Hong’s possession of 12 wards against Gombi’s 10 wards gives candidates from the former an automatic electoral advantage.
He maintained that the number of wards alone cannot determine the outcome of an election, stressing the importance of voter turnout, party structures, candidate popularity, campaign strategy and broader community support.
“Election results are not determined merely by the number of wards. Voter turnout, party structures, candidate popularity, campaign effectiveness and issue-based politics frequently play more significant roles than numerical assumptions,” he stated.
On ethnic considerations, Hong cautioned against using identity as the principal basis for determining who should represent the constituency.
He argued that democratic politics should encourage voters and political parties to focus on leadership qualities, competence, integrity and policy direction rather than ethnic background.
“The NDC should strive to demonstrate that every qualified citizen has an equal opportunity to seek public office regardless of ethnic background,” he said.
Hong similarly dismissed gender as a legitimate reason for questioning the viability of the current candidate, arguing that the historical absence of women among elected representatives should not be used as evidence that a female candidate cannot win.
He described the argument as neither democratic nor evidence-based, saying political progress often comes when individuals challenge established patterns.
According to him, promoting qualified women into political leadership should be viewed as an indication of democratic maturity rather than a disadvantage.
On religion, Hong said the religious identity of a candidate should not be used as the principal determinant of political opportunity.
While acknowledging the importance of understanding the demographic realities of the constituency, he argued that elections should not be reduced to religious calculations.
He stressed that competence and public acceptance should remain at the centre of the party’s assessment.
“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 said.
He further questioned the absence of what he described as a detailed assessment of the candidate’s competence, public service record, leadership qualities, political experience, grassroots support and campaign capacity in the proposal seeking a review of the candidature.
Hong warned that replacing the candidate abruptly could create internal divisions, undermine the confidence of party members, demoralise supporters and volunteers, and generate perceptions of ethnic, religious or gender bias within the party.
He also noted that such a move could expose the party to legal and organisational challenges.
While acknowledging that political balancing has a place in electoral strategy, Hong maintained that it should not override democratic fairness, merit and competence.
He therefore urged the NDC to exercise caution and assess the candidate using objective criteria rather than demographic assumptions.
“Political parties exist not only to win elections but also to uphold democratic principles and provide credible leadership. Electoral success is most sustainable when built upon competence, inclusiveness, fairness and public trust,” he said.
Hong concluded by urging party stakeholders to prioritise the interests of the people of Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency and allow qualified candidates to compete on the basis of their capacity, integrity, grassroots support and commitment to development.
“A strong democracy is not built by limiting opportunity to particular groups, but by allowing the most capable candidates to compete and earn the confidence of the electorate,” he said.
