A fresh wave of discontent has hit the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ebonyi State following the resignation of 11 party officials, including key members of the State Executive Council (EXCO), over what they described as irregularities in the party’s primary elections.
The resignations, which come amid lingering controversies surrounding the NDC primaries conducted nationwide on May 29, have exposed deep divisions within the party’s Ebonyi chapter and raised concerns about its internal cohesion ahead of future electoral contests, reports Daily Independent.
Documents obtained by our correspondent show that those who have formally withdrawn their membership include the Deputy State Chairman, Comrade Okey Idenyi; State Secretary, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu; State Youth Leader, Anthony Nwofe; Deputy State Youth Leader, Emenike Daniel Oroke; State Welfare Officer, Hon. Ajah Cyril; and several local government party chairmen.
The departing officials attributed their decision to what they described as a flawed and compromised primary election process, alleging that the wishes of party members and grassroots supporters were disregarded in the selection of candidates.
Their resignations are the latest development in a dispute that has trailed the conduct of the party’s primaries in Ebonyi State, where some aspirants and their supporters have repeatedly questioned the transparency and credibility of the exercise.
In separate resignation letters, the former officials accused the party leadership of abandoning the principles of internal democracy and failing to address complaints arising from the conduct of the primaries.
According to them, some aspirants who enjoyed significant support among party members, including Architect Christian Asaga Nwali, popularly known as C-Sagas, were denied a fair opportunity through a process they considered compromised.
The officials further alleged that the national leadership of the party had failed to act on concerns raised by stakeholders in the state.
“When a party abandons internal democracy and the voice of its base, it loses its foundation. More resignations are expected to follow. A party that cannot respect its own members cannot claim to represent the people,” they stated.
For many political observers, the resignations represent one of the most serious internal crises to confront the NDC in Ebonyi since the conclusion of its nationwide nomination exercises.
In his resignation letter dated June 21, 2026, and addressed to the NDC Chairman of Ezillo Ward 2 in Ishielu Local Government Area, Deputy State Chairman Comrade Okey Idenyi expressed disappointment over what he described as a departure from the ideals upon which the party was founded.
Idenyi recalled his contributions to the establishment and growth of the party in the state, stating that he had invested considerable personal resources in building structures across several local government areas and supporting the party’s operations.
“Sir, politics, they say, is a game of interest. Before Mr Peter Obi joined the NDC, I had already made significant contributions to the development and formation of the party’s structure both in the state, LGAs and Wards. Precisely, I constituted the Structure of NDC in Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu and suggested names in other LGAs of Ebonyi State.
“I also made the payment for the office secretariat that is being used by the NDC in Ebonyi State. I hired labourers to clean up the space and made it look good for use. That is where the party still use till date,” he wrote.
The former deputy chairman said he had joined the party in the belief that it would provide credible leadership and uphold democratic values but had become disillusioned by recent developments.
“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken a path that is in variance with my democratic belief and the new Nigeria project we envisage by organising a blanket primaries election, asking the party chairman to stay away from the venue, but stayed in a hotel to write results, which was later upheld as the authentic result after abandoning the other aspirants and their supporters at the party secretariat and the LGAs primary election venues.
“The process that made them candidates for the NDC in Ebonyi State is questionable and corrupt,” he stated.
Idenyi also alleged that supporters were abandoned at designated primary election venues, while some party faithful reportedly suffered attacks and injuries during the exercise.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, effective immediately,” he added.
Similarly, the State Secretary, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu, cited what he described as the inability of the party’s national leadership to address concerns raised over the primaries.
In his resignation letter dated June 21, 2026, and addressed to the NDC Chairman of Ndebor Ward in Ebonyi Local Government Area, Chinedu referred to petitions and complaints previously submitted to the party leadership.
“For the issues bordered in Ebonyi NDC State primary, which the national chairman, including the leader of the party, is still keeping silent and even after passing a vote of no confidence to the State Chairman, Prince Enyinaya Udensi, for compromise and abuse of office.
“I, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu, of the above address, as the State Secretary of the party, hereby resign, hence the party has no democratic principle direction and the rule of law to pursue my political interests thereof,” he wrote.
According to Chinedu, the concerns and interests of party members and founding supporters in the state had increasingly been ignored despite repeated efforts to seek redress through internal mechanisms.
The latest resignations come weeks after supporters of Architect Christian Asaga Nwali staged a protest at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja over the outcome of the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District primary election.
The demonstrators, numbering over 1,000 according to organisers, accused party officials of attempting to manipulate the outcome of the exercise in favour of another aspirant, Professor Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s leader, Mrs Joy Ewa, urged the party’s national leadership, including National Leader Senator Seriake Dickson and presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, to intervene and ensure that the outcome of the primaries reflected the wishes of party members.
The controversy surrounding the Ebonyi primaries has emerged as one of the most significant internal challenges confronting the NDC in the aftermath of its nationwide nomination process.
Political analysts warn that unless the grievances are addressed, the growing dissatisfaction among party stakeholders could undermine the party’s grassroots mobilisation efforts and electoral prospects in Ebonyi State.
As of the time of filing this report, the national leadership of the NDC had not issued an official response to the resignations or the allegations raised by the former party executives.
