Fresh tension has erupted within the Nigeria Democratic Congress over the NDC Enugu North Senate ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, as House of Representatives aspirants and political stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District warned party leaders against imposing a senatorial candidate on the zone.
Key Highlights
•NDC Enugu North stakeholders rejected alleged plans to impose a senatorial candidate.
•The group warned that any undemocratic process could trigger internal resistance.
•Stakeholders insisted on transparency, fairness, and internal democracy.
•Nsukka Zone was described as holding about 56 per cent of Enugu State’s voting strength.
•The group threatened withdrawal of support if party leaders ignore grassroots opinion.
The stakeholders, who met in Abuja on Tuesday, declared that any attempt to handpick a candidate outside a transparent democratic process would provoke strong opposition from party members and grassroots supporters across Nsukka Zone.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the group stressed that fairness, credibility, and internal democracy must guide the emergence of candidates for the three House of Representatives seats and the senatorial position in the district.
According to the stakeholders, Nsukka Zone remains a critical political bloc in Enugu State, accounting for nearly 56 percent of the state’s voting strength, and therefore cannot be politically sidelined.
“Any unpopular imposition in Nsukka Zone could have grave electoral consequences for the party,” the communiqué stated.
The group further warned that aspirants contesting under the NDC platform could withdraw their participation and support for the party if leaders force a senatorial candidate on the people against their wishes.
The stakeholders also rejected money politics, insisting that elections in Nsukka Zone are determined by grassroots acceptance, competence, and credibility rather than elite endorsements or financial influence.
Referencing the 2023 general elections, the group recalled how the Labour Party recorded one of its strongest electoral performances in Nsukka Zone, contributing significantly to the defeat of an incumbent governor during the senatorial election.
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According to them, the outcome reflected the political independence of voters in the zone and their resistance to externally imposed candidates.
Despite the growing tension, the stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the NDC and passed a vote of confidence on former Okwesilieze Nwodo, praising his leadership and commitment to building what they described as a people-oriented political structure in the state.
They, however, maintained that continued support for the party would depend on whether democratic principles are respected during the candidate selection process ahead of the 2027 elections.
