The Nsukka Democratic Movement (NDM), an umbrella pro-democracy platform comprising affiliate civil society organisations, community-based democratic groups, youth organisations, professional associations, political advocacy groups and other people-oriented formations across the Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, has called on the people of Nsukka to strategically deploy their high voting strength ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Enugu State.
The Movement said the political future of Nsukka and its capacity to produce a governor capable of transforming the state should not be subjected to sentimental considerations, political exclusion or an outdated zoning argument that no longer reflects the current political realities in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Secretary General, Comrade James Ezema, the NDM urged political stakeholders, traditional leaders, professionals, youths, women, civil society actors and the wider electorate across Nsukka to join its consultations towards identifying and supporting a consensus governorship candidate with the competence, character, capacity and broad acceptability required to govern Enugu State in the interest of all its people.
According to the Movement, Nsukka remains one of the most politically significant voting blocs in Enugu State and should therefore move beyond merely demanding where the governorship should come from to determining who among the available candidates has the strongest capacity to deliver effective governance and development for the entire state and Nsukka zone in particular.
The statement reads in part: “We call on all Nsukka people to make wise and strategic use of our high voting population. Our votes must no longer be treated merely as instruments for negotiating political positions after decisions have already been made elsewhere.
“The time has come for Nsukka to sit down, consult broadly and work towards a consensus around a candidate who has what it takes to govern Enugu State successfully and to provide the kind of purposeful leadership that will accelerate the development of Nsukka Senatorial District and the entire state.
“We must place competence, integrity, capacity, vision, performance and popular acceptability above sentiments and political calculations that do not advance the interests of our people.”
The NDM argued that the much-discussed zoning arrangement in Enugu State must be understood within its proper political context, stressing that the arrangement was fundamentally a political initiative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was not a binding agreement subscribed to by every political party or every political actor in the state.
The Movement maintained that the political circumstances that produced and sustained the arrangement have changed significantly, particularly with the emergence of a different political configuration in the state.
It therefore described as politically unwise any attempt by Nsukka people to insist exclusively on zoning at a time when the party that initiated and historically operated the arrangement is no longer in control of the political process in the state.
“Zoning has collapsed as a political arrangement because its principal political vehicle is no longer in power in Enugu State. The zoning formula was a PDP initiative; it was not a constitutional provision, nor was it an agreement binding on all political parties in the state.
“If political parties are now producing governorship candidates from the zone that produced the incumbent governor, it will be politically unwise for us at Nsukka zone to continue to approach the 2027 election solely from the standpoint of zoning.
“Our argument is simple: if the political environment has changed and parties are free to nominate candidates based on their own democratic processes, Nsukka zone must also be free to make a strategic political choice based on the candidate who can best serve the interests of our people.”
The Movement cautioned, however, that rejecting zoning should not translate into political exclusion or the imposition of candidates on the people of Nsukka zone.
It insisted that the alternative to zoning should be popular participation, open consultation, transparent political engagement and a democratic consensus built around the aspirations of the people.
The NDM said Nsukka should not allow itself to be reduced to a voting bloc that is only courted during election seasons, insisting that its political influence must be converted into tangible development, effective representation and meaningful participation in the governance of the state.
“We are not advocating for the exclusion of Nsukka zone from the governorship. On the contrary, we are advocating for a stronger and more intelligent strategy through which Enugu North Senatorial District can participate in determining who governs Enugu State in 2027.
“Let us not allow the argument over zoning to divide our people or make us politically predictable. Our strength lies in our votes, our population and our ability to collectively make a strategic choice.
“Wherever the most competent, acceptable and people-oriented candidate emerges, Nsukka zone must be prepared to engage, negotiate and build a democratic consensus that guarantees the best possible outcome for our people and the state.”
The Movement further called on political parties, aspirants and political stakeholders seeking the support of Nsukka to engage the people directly and present clear programmes for the development of Nsukka zone, particularly in areas affecting infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment, agriculture, industrialisation, security and human capital development.
It warned that the people of Enugu North Senatorial District must not surrender their political choices to elite negotiations conducted without their participation.
The NDM therefore urged all affiliate organisations under the Nsukka Democratic Movement, as well as community leaders, youth and women groups, professional bodies, civil society organisations and other democratic stakeholders across Enugu North Senatorial District, to join it as it leads broad-based consultations aimed at evolving a common political direction ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
“2027 should not be about who has the loudest political machinery. It should be about who can earn the confidence of our people and provide competent, inclusive and development-oriented leadership.
“Nsukka must participate. Nsukka zone must negotiate. Nsukka zone must vote wisely. Above all, Enugu North Senatorial District must refuse to be excluded from the process of determining its own political future.”
