The Anambra State chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), David Chukwudifu, has declared that his party cannot deliver a single ward for its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if the current divisions within the party's state structure persist. Chukwudifu made these remarks in an interview published on Sunday, October 11, by The Punch, accusing Obi of deliberately avoiding him and other South-East party chairmen since joining the NDC.
Obi Accused of Ignoring Party Executives
According to Chukwudifu, Obi joined the party on May 3, 2026, one day before the Anambra state congress was held. He said that in the weeks that followed, neither he nor his state working committee could reach the presidential candidate despite multiple attempts.
"Since he joined the party, he has not met with any of the South-East chairmen, particularly me, the state chairman. He has been avoiding me," Chukwudifu said. He added that his team sent WhatsApp messages and placed phone calls that went unanswered. When Obi eventually returned to Anambra, no appointment or direction came from Obi's camp.
Parallel Structures and Allegations of Outsider Control
Chukwudifu further claimed that a separate group, which he said included individuals who moved with Obi from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC, had been conducting party activities independently. This included selling nomination forms, conducting a screening exercise, and holding a primary without the involvement of the official state, local government, or ward structures.
"People from Labour and APGA are the ones running the affairs of the party, as far as I can see," he said. Chukwudifu said his faction had gone ahead to inaugurate its own office because Obi's group had been operating from hotels.
Structural Crisis Threatens 2027 Election Prospects
Asked directly whether the Anambra NDC could present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections, Chukwudifu was blunt: "I do not think we can win any ward in Anambra state, let alone a local government or the state, for Peter Obi if we continue in this direction."
He acknowledged that APGA, which has governed Anambra for nearly 24 years, would be a formidable opponent, adding that the tensions between Obi and the state governor, Charles Soludo, made the situation even more challenging.
On June 27, 2026, Obi reportedly denied sidelining party executives during a chance encounter with one of the local government chairmen along the Benin-Asaba Road. He said he was unaware of the situation and directed the chairman to liaise with Senator Tony Nwoye. Nwoye subsequently disputed whether the man held any legitimate chairmanship role within the party.
Peter Obi resigned from the ADC on May 2, 2026, and was ratified as the NDC's 2027 presidential candidate on May 29, 2026. The internal crisis in Anambra NDC raises significant questions about the party's ability to mount a credible campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
