News Investigators/ The Enugu State factional Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnpaul Anih, has appealed to the national leadership of the party to intervene in the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter.
Mr Anih made the appeal on Monday at a news briefing, insisting that he remained the “authentic chairman produced through a valid congress” conducted in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that another party chieftain, Ibuchukwu Obetta, had earlier laid claims to being the substantive state chairman.
Mr Obetta contended that all the issues concerning the party leadership in the state had been resolved at the party’s National Convention in Abuja.
But Mr Anih claimed that the authentic congresses of the party in the state culminated in the state congress held at Aborigen Hall and Premises, Enugu, where he reportedly emerged chairman.
According to him, the congress was conducted by a committee appointed by the national leadership of the party and witnessed by security agencies, INEC officials and the media.
“We possess video evidence of the authentic congress that produced me and my executive members,” Anih said.
He alleged that some individuals were attempting to hijack the party structure through unconstitutional means, adding that their actions had created confusion within the state chapter.
Mr Anih also accused the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Osa Director, of issuing what he described as a “malicious publication” against him, including allegations of impersonation and fraud.
He challenged the party spokesman to provide evidence to support claims that he sold nomination or expression of interest forms to aspirants.
The factional leader further alleged that some aspirants in the state were being compelled to pay ₦400,000 into a personal account, allegedly controlled by a purported pro-tem chairman.
“These issues require proper investigation by the national leadership,” Anih stated.
He said he had written letters, dated May 11 and May 12, to the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Seriake Dickson, and copied the party’s 2027 Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, urging them to intervene in the crisis.
“These letters were duly acknowledged,” he said.
He appealed to the national leadership to uphold the provisions of the party constitution, particularly Section 12(17), which provides that initial officers of the party remain in office until congresses had been conducted.
He said that no other valid congress had taken place in Enugu apart from the one that produced him and his fellow executive members.
Anih also alleged that an attempt to conduct another congress in the state was stopped by a court order.
He urged party members and aspirants in the state to recognise only his leadership, warning against the danger of dealing with any other group claiming to represent the party.
“Our leadership emerged through a valid congress and remains the authentic leadership of the NDC in Enugu State,” he said.
He further said that the state chapter would proceed with its scheduled primaries later in the week, in line with the directives from the national leadership of the party. (NAN
