The Enugu State Working Committee, SWC, of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has issued a pre-action notice to the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, demanding the immediate ratification of congresses conducted across the 260 wards, 17 local government areas and the state.
The congresses, which ended with the state congress on May 4, 2026, produced Dr. Johnpaul Ani as State Chairman and Dr. Sebastine Okafor as State Secretary.
The development followed alleged delays by the party’s National Secretariat in ratifying the congresses despite the submission of a report by the Secretary of the Congress Committee, Engr. Echezona Ogbanufe, affirming that the exercises were successfully conducted.
In a letter written through their counsel, Stanley C. Nwankwo, Esq., Ani and other elected party officials urged the NEC to immediately recognise and ratify the congresses or risk legal action.
The letter, written by the Chambers of Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, was addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, and copied to the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, and Peter Obi.
Titled “Report of Unconstitutional Conduct by the National Secretariat of Nigeria Democratic Congress,” the petition accused the National Secretariat of allegedly planning to organise a fresh congress in Enugu State despite the completion of the earlier exercise.
According to the petitioners, the congresses were conducted in line with the party’s timetable and monitored by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Department of State Services, DSS.
The petition stated that at the state congress held on May 4, Dr. Johnpaul Ani and other executives emerged through a valid electoral process.
The group also alleged that tensions within the party escalated after one Engr. Ibuchukwu Obeta allegedly threatened party members, including the South-East Zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Teddy Odeh, and attempted to use security operatives to disrupt party activities.
The petition further claimed that following the successful congresses, the party gained wider visibility in Enugu State as an opposition platform and that the National Secretariat had not publicly disowned the outcome of the exercise.
Citing Article 12.7 of the party’s constitution, the petitioners argued that the former protem leadership in the state automatically ceased to exist after the emergence of the new executives.
They also accused the party’s National Secretary of attempting to frustrate the newly elected executives following the influx of former members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, into the NDC after the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to the party.
“The question which begs to be answered is this: “Had His Excellency Peter Obi and His Excellency Rabiu Kwankwaso not joined the party, would these persons come anywhere close to the NDC?”
“It has come to our clients’ knowledge that the National Secretary has perfected arrangements to write to INEC to cancel the State Congress held on 4th May, 2026 within the party’s timetable for conduct of congresses where the Dr. Johnpaul Anih-led State executive was elected in a bid to schedule another State Congress in Enugu State in blatant breach of Articles 2 and 12.7 of the party’s constitution.
“The National Secretary of all persons ought to know that breaching the party’s constitution and guidelines has far-reaching consequences as it goes beyond the boundaries of internal affairs of a political party,” part of the petition read.
