The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Anambra State, David Patrick Chukwudifu, has warned that the party may s truggle to win even a single ward in the state in the 2027 general elections if the alleged exclusiIon of its existing leadership continues.
Chukwudifu accused the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his associates of sidelining the state executive committee, local government chairmen and ward leaders since Obi joined the party in May 2026.
He made the allegations in an interview with our correspondent, where he expressed concern over what he described as the takeover of the party’s affairs in Anambra by a group operating without the involvement of the existing party structure.
According to him, Obi joined the NDC on May 3, 2026, while the Anambra State chapter held its congress the following day. Both subsequently attended the party’s national convention in Abuja on May 9.
Chukwudifu said that after the convention, he and members of his state working committee made several attempts to contact Obi through phone calls and WhatsApp messages but received no response.
He alleged that another group later began selling nomination forms, screening aspirants and conducting a primary election without consulting the existing state leadership.
He specifically mentioned Chris McCool Nwosu and Ikem Uzoezie, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, among those involved in activities that he claimed had excluded the established party structures.
The state chairman further alleged that individuals associated with the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were now playing leading roles in the NDC’s affairs in Anambra.
Chukwudifu maintained that he had never met Obi personally and that his earlier public comments about the former Anambra governor were based on admiration for his political philosophy, particularly his advocacy for a society where people could rise through merit rather than personal connections.
He said the situation had created uncertainty among party members and supporters who continued to contact him for information about the party’s activities and opportunities to participate.
According to him, the NDC in Anambra is currently operating largely online, with virtual meetings taking the place of effective physical structures across the state.
The chairman also claimed that an associate of Obi once facilitated a telephone conversation during which the former governor allegedly indicated that he would not work with the existing state executives and that Chukwudifu could seek legal redress if dissatisfied.
He, however, recalled that Obi later denied knowledge of the alleged exclusion when he met one of the party’s local government chairmen on June 27, 2026, along the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
According to Chukwudifu, Obi reportedly asked the local government chairman to liaise with Senator Tony Nwoye, but the senator subsequently disputed the man’s claim to the position.
Chukwudifu said no further engagement had taken place between Obi and his group since then.
The NDC chairman disclosed that he had written to the party’s relevant authorities on May 26 and 27, 2026, seeking intervention in line with the party’s constitution and internal dispute-resolution procedures.
He said the complaints were sent through email, text messages, WhatsApp and courier services, with copies delivered to the national chairman and national secretary.
However, he lamented that the state leadership had yet to receive a response.
Chukwudifu suggested that the party’s national leadership might be finding it difficult to intervene because Anambra is Obi’s home state and the dispute involves the party’s presidential candidate.
He also expressed concern about the reported removal of 326 ward chairmen, 21 local government chairmen and 29 members of the state working committee, warning that such developments could further weaken the party’s organisational structure.
Assessing the NDC’s chances in the 2027 elections, Chukwudifu acknowledged that APGA, which has governed Anambra State for nearly 24 years, remains a formidable political force.
He said the NDC would need a strong grassroots structure and sustained mobilisation to compete effectively, particularly given the political differences between Obi and Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The chairman stressed that political parties should accommodate members and supporters rather than push them aside, arguing that every vote counts and that individual supporters could influence voting decisions within their families and communities.
He warned that unless the NDC resolved its internal crisis and brought its different groups together, the party could face serious difficulties in building the support required to win elections in Anambra.
The allegations raise questions about the NDC’s internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. Obi and the other individuals accused of sidelining the existing party leadership were not quoted in the interview as responding directly to the latest allegations.
About the Author
