_Maha Christopher_
House of Representatives aspirants and key stakeholders from Nsukka Zone have warned the Nigeria Democratic Congress against imposing a senatorial candidate for Enugu North Senatorial District.
According to The Punch, the stakeholders insisted that transparency, fairness, and internal democracy must guide the selection of candidates for elective positions in the zone.
The warning was contained in a communiqué issued after a strategic meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The group stressed that the people of Nsukka would resist any attempt to impose candidates against the wishes of party members and grassroots supporters.
“Any unpopular imposition in Nsukka Zone could have grave electoral consequences for the party,” the communiqué stated.
The stakeholders argued that Nsukka Zone accounts for about 56 per cent of Enugu State’s voting population, making it too politically important for party leaders to ignore the feelings of the people.
They further warned that several aspirants contesting under the NDC platform might withdraw their participation and support if a senatorial candidate is imposed on the zone.
The aspirants also dismissed the influence of money politics, insisting that electoral success in Nsukka depends largely on grassroots acceptance, integrity, competence, and credibility.
Referencing the 2023 general elections, the stakeholders noted that the Labour Party recorded its strongest performance in Nsukka Zone, contributing significantly to the defeat of a sitting governor during the senatorial election.
According to them, the outcome demonstrated the political independence of Nsukka voters and their resistance to imposed candidates.
Despite their concerns, the stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the NDC and passed a vote of confidence on former Enugu State Governor, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, praising his leadership and commitment to building a people oriented party structure in the state.
They assured the party leadership of their continued support, provided democratic principles are respected and the wishes of party members allowed to prevail.
