The leadership issue in the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, worsened on Tuesday, with the party insisting that Dr. Johnpaul Anih remain the party’s legitimately elected chairman in the state.
The NDC state Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Ugwueze, issued a statement dismissing assertions made by Engr. Ibuchukwu Obetta, who purportedly reaffirmed his position as the party’s chairman in Enugu State.
Ugwueze condemned Obetta’s allegation as a deliberate attempt to deceive party members and the general public about the NDC’s true leadership structure in the state.
According to the announcement, Anih was elected as the party’s substantive chairman during a state congress held in accordance with the party constitution and the Electoral Act.
According to the party, the congress was attended by delegates, stakeholders, and members from the state’s 17 local governments.
The NDC further declared that the recently finished National Convention brought an end to all interim and protem leadership structures inside the party, establishing all lawfully elected officers as genuine leaders at various levels.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the party’s duly conducted state congress in Enugu State elected Dr. Johnpaul Anih as the substantive State Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The congress was attended by delegates, stakeholders, and party supporters from all 17 local government areas in the state, and it adhered to the party’s constitutional principles as well as the electoral act.
“The just concluded National Convention marked the end of every protem or interim leadership structure within the party, thereby making every duly elected officer across different levels the legitimate and recognised leaders of the NDC,” Ugwueze stated.
The party further stated that leadership posts could only be obtained through democratic and constitutional means, not by “self-declaration and media propaganda.”
As a result, the NDC urged hopefuls and supporters not to make contributions into the personal accounts of those pretending to be party leaders, citing the risk of fraud.