Crisis: NDC secretary alleges hijack of party by ex-Ebonyi gov, others 

……..Threatens legal battle, mass defections if…..

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The leadership crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) deepened during the weekend as aggrieved party executives announced a vote of no confidence on the State Chairman, Mr. Enyinnaya Alum.

The Nations News reports that the aggrieved members have petitioned the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over what they described as an alleged attempt to hijack the party’s structure in the state.

The aggrieved officials, led by the State Secretary, Solomon Chinedu Adum, accused the chairman and some party stakeholders of compromising the integrity of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, 

They warned that failure by the national leadership to intervene could trigger legal action and mass defections.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, Adum described the office of the secretary as the custodian of the party’s records and correspondence.

He insisted that the state executive had resolved to challenge actions it considered contrary to the party’s constitution and democratic principles.

According to him, consultations had already commenced from the ward to the state levels following the vote of no confidence passed on the chairman.

He disclosed that petitions detailing the grievances of party members had been forwarded to the NWC, the party’s national chairman, national secretary, zonal leadership and other critical stakeholders for urgent intervention.

Adum alleged that the Ebonyi chapter of the NDC had been infiltrated and hijacked by external political interests, claiming that some individuals who were not part of the party’s formative efforts were now attempting to dominate its structures and influence key decisions.

The secretary further alleged that the party’s primary election scheduled for May 30, 2026, was never conducted in Ebonyi State, contrary to claims by certain party officials.

“There was no primary election in Ebonyi State. The documents being paraded by some individuals did not emanate from the office of the state secretary. 

“No valid primary election can be conducted without the involvement of the party’s recognized executive structure,” he said.

Adum maintained that loyal members who nurtured the party from its infancy were being sidelined despite their contributions to its growth and expansion across the state.

He expressed concern that aspirants and stakeholders who invested substantial resources in building the party were being excluded from critical decisions, warning that such developments could undermine party cohesion and electoral prospects.

The NDC secretary also alleged that large sums of money were collected from aspirants ahead of the planned primary election, which he claimed never took place.

He urged affected aspirants to demand refunds of monies paid for nomination processes and other election-related activities.

He noted further that legal remedies remained available should efforts at reconciliation fail.

“We are advising every aspirant who paid money for the aborted primary process to seek a refund. 

“Where such refunds are not made, those affected have the constitutional right to seek redress through the courts,” he stated.

Adum, however, said the aggrieved executives remained committed to exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms before embarking on litigation.

He stressed that the group was awaiting an official response from the NWC on the petitions already submitted, adding that the next line of action would depend on the outcome of the intervention by the national leadership.

“We do not want to escalate the crisis unnecessarily. However, if the national leadership fails to address these concerns and restore confidence in the party.

“we may be left with no option than to seek judicial interpretation of the issues involved,” he said.

The secretary warned that continued disregard for the concerns of founding members and party executives could result in a mass exodus of members across the state’s 13 local government areas.

He further revealed that the aggrieved stakeholders had adopted the Deputy State Chairman and the State Secretary to oversee party affairs pending the resolution of the leadership dispute.

Adum called on the NWC to recognize recommendations submitted by the state’s executive structure regarding candidates and party affairs.

He argued that those who made sacrifices to build the party deserved fair consideration.

Also speaking, the South Zonal Chairman of the party, Chief Obasi Nweze, alleged that he was excluded from key decisions affecting the party and accused the state chairman of running the affairs of the party without adequate consultation with other members of the executive committee.

He claimed that critical decisions, including preparations for the disputed primary election, were undertaken without the knowledge or approval of relevant party organs.

 Nweze, described the crisis as unfortunate, noting that members had initially worked together harmoniously before disagreements emerged over the conduct of party activities.

He alleged that party executives were unable to reach the chairman on the day scheduled for the primary election and questioned the handling of sensitive election materials.

He insisted that party leaders remained committed to preserving internal democracy and ensuring that due process prevailed in the management of party affairs.

The crisis is the latest sign of growing tensions within the Ebonyi NDC as the party positions itself for the 2027 general elections.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the State Chairman, Mr. Enyinnaya Alum, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to his known contacts were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, attempts to get the response of former Governor Senator Sam Egwu, who was mentioned by the aggrieved officials, proved abortive as calls to his phone line were not answered.