By: Sorie Ibrahim Conteh.
On Sunday, 24th August 2025, Hon. Kombo Kamara, the distinguished Chairman of the North West Region for the APC, stood boldly before his people and the nation, publicly declaring his support for Dr. Ibrahim Bangura as the next flag bearer of the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) ahead of the 2026 National Delegates Conference (NDC).
This act of political courage and conviction has sparked conversations across the party. But let’s be clear, Hon. Kombo Kamara has committed no offense. He has simply exercised his democratic right, grounded in his personal conviction and belief in Dr. Bangura’s leadership potential.
Endorsements are nothing new within the APC. In fact, the 2023 election cycle saw a flood of similar endorsements, starting with none other than Hon. Chernoh Ramadan Maju Bah, then Western Area Chairman, who publicly endorsed Dr. Samura Kamara in Kambia – the same North West Region. That single declaration triggered a domino effect; regional chairpersons, Members of Parliament, and other senior officials followed suit, rallying around their preferred candidate.
So we ask:
Where were the critics then?
Why was it acceptable in 2023, but suddenly questionable in 2025?
Hon. Kombo Kamara did not hide behind closed doors. He did not whisper his preference in secrecy. Instead, he chose transparency. He stood with his people and made his endorsement openly, without fear or favor, just as others before him had done.
This is not opportunism. This is leadership. This is conviction. This is the kind of principled stand that the APC should encourage, not vilify.
The APC has always prided itself as a party of diverse voices and democratic engagement. If regional chairpersons could speak freely in 2023, they must be allowed to do so in 2025. Selective outrage is not only unfair, it is hypocritical. Those now crying foul should first examine their silence during past endorsement waves before pointing fingers at Hon. Kombo Kamara.
The principle is simple:
What was right for Hon. Chernoh Ramadan Maju Bah in 2023 must be right for Hon. Kombo Kamara in 2025.
Let the People Decide.
At the end of the day, the APC will decide its flag bearer through a democratic process at the 2026 NDC. Hon. Kombo Kamara has simply shared his view on who he believes is best suited for that role. He has not imposed, coerced, or manipulated; he has merely endorsed, as others have done before him.
Let us be consistent in our values. Let us uphold the spirit of fair play. And above all, let us respect the rights of every party member, especially those like Hon. Kombo Kamara, who act with integrity, courage, and a deep love for the APC.
In the court of public opinion and party equity, Hon. Kombo Kamara comes with clean hands.
