The crisis rocking the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ebonyi State took a new turn on Saturday as major stakeholders threatened to abandon the party. They cited the nonchalant attitude of some leaders who they claim are determined to cripple the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Secretary Warns of Mass Exodus
Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, the State Secretary of the party, Hon. Chinedu Adum, warned that mass defection looms. He fingered former Governor Senator Sam Egwu and others for destabilizing the party. Adum noted that if the situation is not permanently resolved, the party is doomed and may not field any candidate in the upcoming elections.
He accused the state leadership of compromising the party’s structure and warned of a looming mass exodus of members if urgent corrective measures are not taken. Adum alleged that the state chairman and the organizing secretary had compromised the party’s integrity through actions driven by personal interests and inducements.
Founding Members Sidelined
Adum maintained that loyal members who worked tirelessly to establish and sustain the NDC in Ebonyi were being sidelined and unfairly treated. He disclosed that concerned stakeholders had passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman and had commenced consultations across ward, local government, and state levels to determine their next steps.
According to him, petitions and complaints detailing grievances had been forwarded to the National Working Committee (NWC), zonal leaders, and other critical stakeholders. Adum further alleged that the Ebonyi chapter had been hijacked by former Governor Dr. Sam Egwu and his associates, who he accused of attempting to seize control of structures built by longstanding party faithful.
Primary Election Failure
He lamented the failure of the party’s primary election scheduled for May 30, 2026, describing it as a major setback for members who had invested their resources and confidence in the party. Adum argued that many founding members sacrificed time, energy, and finances to build the NDC when it had little political relevance in the state. Allowing new entrants to dominate at the expense of pioneers could destabilize the party and discourage committed members.
In one of his strongest remarks, Adum alleged that substantial sums were collected from aspirants ahead of the aborted primary election. He advised affected aspirants to demand refunds from party officials, warning that legal action remained an option for those unable to recover funds paid for the exercise.
Call for National Intervention
While emphasizing that his group was not interested in escalating the dispute through prolonged litigation, Adum noted that court action could become inevitable if the national leadership failed to intervene. He stressed that the credibility and future of the party depended on transparency, due process, and respect for the decisions of duly recognized party organs.
The embattled secretary also criticized the increasing influence of external political actors within the NDC, warning that such developments could undermine the party’s chances in future elections. He urged the national leadership to take swift action to prevent the crisis from worsening and to restore confidence among members.
Adum warned that failure to address concerns could trigger a mass resignation of members across the state, further deepening internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections. He insisted that the struggle aimed at protecting the party’s integrity and ensuring that the sacrifices of its founding members were not rendered meaningless.
