Concerned stakeholders from Nsukka in Enugu North Senatorial District have warned the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) against allowing financial influence and transactional politics to determine the party’s senatorial candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by Chief Ugwuoke Odo on behalf of the Concerned Stakeholders of Nsukka, the group insisted that the party’s ticket should be based strictly on popularity, credibility, grassroots acceptance and genuine connection with the people rather than monetary influence or political imposition.

The stakeholders cautioned that any attempt to impose what they described as an unpopular candidate could trigger serious political consequences for the party, not only within Enugu North Senatorial District but across the state.

According to the statement, the political history of Nsukka has repeatedly shown that the people prefer accessible and people-oriented leaders over politicians perceived to depend solely on financial power and elite political influence.

The group argued that previous elections in the district demonstrated a consistent rejection of transactional politics in favour of candidates with stronger grassroots appeal and wider public support.

The stakeholders therefore called on Peter Obi to prevail on the leadership of the NDC to ensure that only candidates with genuine popularity and broad-based support emerge as the party’s flag bearers for the 2027 elections.

They warned that any deviation from this principle could provoke political backlash capable of undermining the party’s electoral prospects in Enugu State.

The statement also cautioned the party against considering the aspiration of an unnamed aspirant, allegedly boasting that he was prepared to pay any amount required to secure the Senate ticket.

According to the stakeholders, such an approach would amount to a political liability for the party within the district.

They claimed that despite his lengthy stay in office, his performance fell below public expectations.

The stakeholders also alleged that the politician worked against the Nsukka political interest during the 2023 governorship process after allegedly receiving assurances of a senatorial ticket from the administration of Governor Peter Mbah ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, it was only after he was allegedly denied both a bye-election ticket and the anticipated senatorial ticket that he renewed his interest in the Nsukka cause by defecting from the All Progressives Congress to the NDC.

The group accused the aspirant of disrupting the long-standing rotational arrangement between Nsukka and Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency in pursuit of personal political ambition without regard for fairness, equity and political harmony.

They further expressed concern that the politician had yet to apologise to the people of Nsukka over actions they claimed undermined the Nsukka Project during the 2023 governorship election.

The stakeholders maintained that his declaration of interest in the 2027 senatorial election under the NDC had continued to generate anxiety among party supporters and political observers who fear such a candidature could weaken the party’s electoral chances in the district.

They also warned that allowing such a candidacy could threaten the existing rotational understanding among the local governments that make up Enugu North Senatorial District.

According to the group, the people of Udenu are hopeful that the Senate seat will rotate to them by 2031, while those from Igbo-Etiti expect their turn by 2039.

They argued that any politician perceived as unwilling to respect existing political agreements could destabilise the current arrangement and create unnecessary political tension within the district.

The stakeholders stressed that anyone seeking to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in 2027 must demonstrate integrity, humility, grassroots acceptance, respect for agreements and commitment to collective interests.

They concluded that the era of imposing candidates through financial influence was over in Nsukka, insisting that only a genuinely accepted candidate could guarantee electoral victory for the party in the district.