……He Cannot Convert Selection into Election Through Political Grandstanding
The State Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, has questioned the political judgment and intellectual consistency of the erstwhile candidate of the party in Enugu West Senatorial District, Uche Kingsley Eneh, following his comments on his removal by a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu.
He questioned why someone he described as a renowned Selecocrat would suddenly assume the moral responsibility of lecturing others on democracy when, according to him, he was himself a renowned Electoral Usurper whose emergence was not backed by a legitimate primary election.
Reacting to the statement credited to Mr. Eneh following Wednesday’s court judgment, Dr. Okafor called for unity among party leaders ahead of the 2031 general elections, noting that avoidable administrative blunders, political intrigues and undemocratic manoeuvres during the party’s primary election process had cost the party its fortunes in Enugu State ahead of 2027, as many more candidates would lose their seats.
He urged Mr. Eneh not to waste his resources pursuing an appeal, describing such an undertaking as an exercise in futility, particularly when the very foundation of his purported electoral mandate had been judicially challenged. He advised him to redirect the resources earmarked for what he considered an unwinnable legal adventure towards personal rehabilitation, including changing his wardrobe, after allegedly becoming renowned for appearing in the same outfit and hat.
Dr. Okafor further maintained that no amount of political grandstanding, rhetorical gymnastics or manufactured legitimacy could retrospectively transform an undemocratic selection into a democratic election, while also warning against the tendency of individuals who benefit from questionable political arrangements to appropriate the language of democracy whenever judicial decisions expose the contradictions in their political claims.
He also commended the perseverance and courage demonstrated by Barr. Ugochi Ohajekwe in her pursuit of justice, irrespective of whose ox was gored, stating that her determination had earned her a place in the annals of democratic history in Enugu State.
According to Dr. Okafor, democracy cannot be reduced to a convenient vocabulary deployed by political beneficiaries when it suits their interests. It must be demonstrated through transparent processes, respect for electoral rules and submission to the rule of law.
He also maintained that the party must learn from its present predicament rather than allow personal ambitions, political opportunism and internal sabotage to continue undermining its institutional credibility.
