The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Anambra State, David Chukwudifu, has warned that the party may struggle to win even a single ward in the state for its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, if the lingering leadership crisis is not resolved.
Chukwudifu accused Obi and his associates of sidelining elected party executives in Anambra, alleging that a group of politicians who joined the NDC alongside the former Labour Party presidential candidate had taken over the party’s activities without consulting the existing state, local government and ward structures.
The state chairman made the allegations in an interview with PUNCH, where he spoke about the reported friction between the party’s existing leadership and supporters of Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said he would rather describe the situation as ill-treatment than a personal disagreement, insisting that he had never met Obi or held a direct conversation with him since the former Anambra governor joined the party.
According to him, Obi joined the NDC on May 3, 2026, a day before the state congress that produced his executive committee.
Both subsequently attended the party’s national convention in Abuja on May 9.
Chukwudifu said he and members of his state working committee made several attempts to reach Obi after the convention through telephone calls and WhatsApp messages but received no response.
He alleged that instead of engaging the existing leadership, another group of politicians began selling nomination forms, screening aspirants and conducting primaries without involving the recognised state executive.
Among those he mentioned was Chris McCool Nwosu, whom he identified as an indigene of Anambra South.
He also cited Ikem Uzoezie, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who reportedly convened a meeting of aspirants in Awka.
The NDC chairman claimed that the group had effectively taken control of the party’s affairs, leaving the existing executives on the sidelines.
He further alleged that some individuals formerly associated with the Labour Party and APGA were now running the party’s activities in the state, while his faction had established a secretariat because, according to him, the other group had been operating from hotels.
Chukwudifu maintained that he had no personal relationship with Obi, explaining that his earlier public comments about the former governor were based on admiration for his political philosophy rather than any personal acquaintance.
He recalled referring to Obi’s popular aspiration for a Nigeria where the son of nobody could become somebody without knowing anybody, saying he identified with the principle because of his own rise from humble beginnings.
The chairman alleged that the style of political engagement adopted by Obi and his associates was similar to what he believed had occurred in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
On whether he had confronted Obi directly over the matter, Chukwudifu said an ally of the former governor had once spoken with Obi over the telephone on speakerphone.
According to him, Obi reportedly said he would not work with the existing executives and that Chukwudifu could seek redress in court if dissatisfied.
He also recalled an alleged encounter on June 27, 2026, when Obi met one of the NDC local government chairmen along the Benin-Asaba Road.
Chukwudifu said Obi denied knowledge of the alleged marginalisation and advised the chairman to contact Senator Tony Nwoye.
However, he claimed that Nwoye subsequently disputed the local government chairman’s position within the party.
He added that neither Obi nor his associates had since reached out to his camp to resolve the matter.
The chairman said the crisis had significantly weakened the NDC’s political activities in Anambra, leaving many supporters uncertain about how to participate in the party.
He explained that people continued to contact him through details obtained from the party’s online portal to inquire about meetings, volunteering opportunities and other activities, but he had been unable to provide clear answers because the dispute remained unresolved.
According to him, party meetings were largely being conducted online, with little effective physical presence on the ground.
Chukwudifu also disclosed that he had written to the party’s relevant authorities on May 26 and 27, 2026, seeking intervention in accordance with the NDC constitution’s provisions on internal dispute resolution.
He said the complaints were sent to the party’s National Chairman, National Secretary and other appropriate bodies through emails, text messages, WhatsApp and courier services.
However, he lamented that no formal response had been received, adding that he believed the involvement of the party’s presidential candidate had complicated efforts to resolve the dispute in the South-East.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Chukwudifu warned that the internal crisis could undermine Obi’s electoral prospects in Anambra, particularly given APGA’s longstanding political dominance in the state.
He noted that APGA had governed Anambra for nearly 24 years and possessed an established political structure that the NDC would have to contend with.
The chairman also argued that the party needed to intensify its grassroots mobilisation efforts, especially in view of the reported political differences between Obi and the state governor.
He stressed that political parties must accommodate different interests rather than alienate members, insisting that every vote counts and that an individual could influence the political choices of several others within a family or community.
Chukwudifu questioned the alleged removal of 326 ward chairmen, 21 local government chairmen and 29 members of the state working committee, warning that such actions could further damage the party’s chances.
He maintained that the NDC would struggle to make meaningful electoral gains in Anambra unless the leadership dispute was addressed and the existing party structures were allowed to function effectively.
