The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Enugu State chapter, has declared that its governorship ticket for the 2027 election remains open to all qualified aspirants across the state, dismissing speculations that the position had been zoned to a particular senatorial district.
Speaking after a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC), the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ugwueze, said the NDC was focused on presenting a strong and electable candidate capable of defeating the ruling APC government in Enugu State.
According to him, the party would not sacrifice competence and electoral strength in the name of zoning, stressing that its major objective is to secure victory in the 2027 governorship election.
Ugwueze explained that every capable citizen of Enugu State, irrespective of senatorial district, remains eligible to contest for the party’s governorship ticket.
He, however, clarified that the party had already concluded zoning arrangements for senatorial positions across the state based on equity, fairness, and balanced power distribution.
The NDC said the Enugu East Senatorial District seat had been zoned to Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, particularly Enugu North Local Government Area, noting that the council had yet to produce a senator for the zone in recent political history.
The party also announced that the Enugu North Senatorial District position had been zoned to Igboeze South Local Government Area within the Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency, while the Enugu West Senatorial District seat was zoned to Awgu Local Government Area.
According to the party leadership, Awgu remains the only local government area in Enugu West Senatorial District yet to occupy the senatorial position.
The party reiterated its commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and inclusiveness, adding that consultations with stakeholders across the three senatorial districts were still ongoing to ensure unity and stability within the party.
The NDC further warned aspirants and party members against alleged infiltrators and APC agents whom it accused of attempting to create division and weaken the party’s electoral chances ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ugwueze urged members to avoid spreading misinformation and premature political speculations, assuring them that all decisions regarding the governorship ticket would be communicated officially at the appropriate time before the primaries.
He maintained that no region or group would be marginalized in the distribution of political offices, adding that the party’s ongoing restructuring efforts were aimed at building a stronger and more competitive political platform.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the party, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, disclosed that the NDC had also taken decisions concerning some federal constituency positions while awaiting reports from committees handling the remaining constituencies.
Okafor announced that the Awgu–Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency position had been zoned to Aninri Local Government Area following recommendations from leaders and members of the zoning committee in the area.
He added that decisions on the remaining federal constituencies would be announced later, while calling on aspirants from areas not favored in the zoning arrangement to withdraw and support candidates from the designated zones in the interest of fairness, unity, and the collective progress of the state.