Coalition of Ezinihitte NDC House of Assembly aspirants resolve to zoning…As Ezi-West, Ezi-Center are cleared for ticket

…Disability can’t be prerequisite for anointing who flags party ticket in Ezinihitte.

The Active House of Assembly Aspirants (AHAA) of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ezinihitte state constituency have in a high-level strategic alignment meeting resolved to zoning ticket of the local government to Ezi-West and Ezi-Center.

In a release signed by members of the coalition, Hon Osondu H.C. Nnorom served as Convener and Aspirant Hon Emmanuel Bekee, Aspirant Hon Edward Uzoechila Ezeh and Aspirant Hon Mike Unegbu and made available to newsmen noted, thus, “Conscious of the urgent imperative for absolute party unity, discipline, and a formidable front ahead of the upcoming Imo State House of Assembly elections, the active House of Assembly Aspirants of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ezinihitte Mbaise Constituency held a
high-level strategic alignment meeting”.

“The meeting was convened to establish an equitable zoning framework, review aspirant eligibility criteria, institute binding post-primary financial safeguards, and present a unified position to the National Party Leadership and as well as the state leadership. After exhaustive deliberations, broad democratic consultations, and a formal voting process, the Coalition unanimously resolved as follows in line with zoning and regional equity – Reviewed the historical distribution of legislative representation in Ezinihitte Mbaise and observed that Ezi-East has held the seat for a cumulative 16 years, Ezi-West for 8 years, and Ezi-Center for only 4 years. That in the spirit of natural justice, equity, and rotational fairness, the Coalition firmly resolves that the next NDC candidate for the Ezinihitte Mbaise House of Assembly seat must emerge from either Ezi-Center or Ezi-West”.

That in the light of the above, aspirants from Ezi-East are ineligible for this electoral cycle.

Screening validation as baseline criterion to run. The Coalition affirmed that participation in the official NDC screening exercise conducted in Owerri, Imo State, remains a non-negotiable prerequisite for candidacy. Any aspirant who bypassed the state-level screening process or claims alternative federal screening without local clearance is disqualified under this regional consensus framework and is not recognised”.

However, the Coalition totally rejects and condemns the use of disability as a precondition, standard, or standing order for selecting the NDC House of Assembly candidate for Ezinihitte, as it undermines democratic principles and doctrines. Concluding on the issue of disability, the aspirants noted that: “if disability was to be the basis for candidate selection, the party ought to have clearly stated it in its constitution or guiding rules so that able bodied citizens will never indicate where the disabled is aspiring. Such a provision would have automatically discouraged able-bodied aspirants from participating and engaging with the party”.

“Deference to party leadership for consensus to foster harmony and synergy, the Coalition has resolved to defer the final selection of the consensus candidate from the eligible pool (qualified aspirants from Ezi-West and Ezi-Center) to the wisdom of the National Party Leadership and the State. The group maintained that the consensus candidate must be visibly grounded, structurally viable, and demonstrates evidences of investing in the local political space and campaign ecosystem enabling him to win election”.

Continuing the statement reads, “Binding Post-Emergence Financial Commitments: To ensure equity and compensate for resources expended by all frontline aspirants, the Coalition resolves that: The emerged consensus candidate shall execute a formal, binding undertaking to compensate other aspirants as detailed in Part II of this Communiqué”.

The statement warns against external imposition as the Coalition commands a formidable, well structured, and deeply rooted voter base across Ezinihitte Mbaise. Stating that any attempt to disregard these resolutions or impose a candidate outside the ratified eligible zones (Ezi-Center or Ezi-West) will be met with unified and resolute resistance. They maintained that the risks total electoral rejection in the constituency if these guidelines are ignored. We shall only mobilize fully behind a candidate selected strictly in accordance with this consensus”.