Ebonyi NDC crisis deepens as top party officials resign

The crisis in the Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) became worse on Monday after several key party officials resigned from their positions.

Those who resigned include the Deputy Chairman, Comrade Okey Idenyi; the Secretary, Barrister Chinedu Adum; the Welfare Officer, Cyril Ajah; the Youth Leader, Anthony Nwofe; and several others.

The former officials said they left the party because of alleged corruption, financial misconduct, lack of fairness, and disagreements over the party’s recent primary elections.

Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, they claimed their resignations showed that the party’s structure in Ebonyi State was collapsing. They also predicted that the NDC would struggle to win any seat in the state House of Assembly during the next general election.

Former Deputy Chairman Okey Idenyi said he was disappointed that a party structure built by loyal members before Peter Obi became a major political figure had been taken over by people he described as “newcomers” who did not follow due process.

He accused the party leadership of abandoning an earlier agreement to adopt consensus candidates and instead conducting primary elections that he described as disorganized and confusing.
According to him, politicians from other parties later joined the NDC and took control of leadership positions, while founding members were pushed aside.

Idenyi also alleged that aspirants paid various amounts for nomination, including ₦100,000 for House of Assembly seats, ₦300,000 for House of Representatives seats, ₦500,000 for Senate seats, and ₦750,000 for governorship aspirants.

He claimed the money was poorly managed and that the process eventually changed from consensus arrangements to contested primaries.

“We were told there would be consensus candidates, but later everyone was asked to participate in primaries. What happened was disappointing and embarrassing,” he said.

He further criticized the state leadership, accusing it of poor coordination during the primary elections.

Former Secretary Chinedu Adum said he could no longer remain in a party that, in his view, denied founding members the opportunity to contest elections.

He accused the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of ignoring repeated complaints about the alleged takeover of the party structure in the state.

Adum also claimed that aspirants spent more than ₦3 million on nomination forms and were later asked to pay additional fees before screening. He described the process as unfair and exploitative.

According to him, some aspirants who paid the required fees were eventually disqualified because they lacked political support within the party.

He also accused former Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, of having excessive influence over the party’s affairs in the state.

Youth Leader Anthony Nwofe described the party primaries as chaotic and lacking internal democracy.

He said petitions submitted by the state chapter were ignored by the national leadership.
“I am no longer interested in the party. I have resigned and decided to make it public,” he said.

Welfare Officer Cyril Ajah also announced his resignation.

He said recent developments within the party no longer reflected his beliefs and values.

Ajah added that he had withdrawn his support for the party and its presidential candidate, saying he could no longer participate in its activities.

The resignations have further deepened concerns about internal divisions within the NDC in Ebonyi State ahead of future elections.