NDC Enugu Crisis Deepens As Anih Rejects Allegations, Insists He Is Authentic Chairman
The leadership crisis rocking the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) took a fresh turn on Monday as the State Chairman of the party, Dr. Johnpaul Anih, dismissed allegations of impersonation and fraud levelled against him by the national leadership.
Addressing journalists during a press conference in Enugu, Anih described as “laughable, malicious and politically motivated” a disclaimer reportedly issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq., accusing him of illegally parading himself as Chairman of the NDC in Enugu State.
According to Anih, the allegations were part of a wider plot by certain individuals within the party to hijack the structure of the NDC in the state through intimidation, propaganda and unconstitutional means.
He maintained that he emerged as chairman through a valid and transparent congress conducted at Aborigen Hall and Premises, Enugu, in the presence of security agencies, electoral officials and members of the media.
Anih said the congress, which he claimed was supervised by a committee appointed by the national leadership of the party, was disrupted by thugs allegedly sponsored by those opposed to his emergence. He, however, stated that the attempt to scuttle the exercise failed.
“We possess video evidence of the authentic congress that produced me and my executive members,” he said.
The NDC chairman further accused the party’s National Publicity Secretary of contradicting established facts concerning the leadership structure of the party in Enugu State.
He recalled that on May 6, 2026, some officials from the party’s national secretariat allegedly wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking approval to conduct ward, local government and state congresses on May 16, 17 and 18.
According to him, although INEC acknowledged receipt of the letter on May 8, the information was allegedly concealed from party members until May 14, before a court order stopped the planned exercise on May 15.
“For emphasis, there was no known congress conducted anywhere in the state, as the attempted illegitimate exercise never took place, having been effectively stalled by the court,” Anih stated.
He also denied allegations that he sold expression of interest and nomination forms to aspirants, challenging the National Publicity Secretary to provide evidence to support the claim or face legal action.
Anih further alleged that some State Assembly aspirants in Enugu State were being compelled to pay ₦400,000 into a personal account allegedly controlled by a purported pro tem chairman, calling on the national leadership of the party to investigate the matter.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Anih insisted that he remains the authentic chairman of the NDC in Enugu State and vowed not to relinquish what he described as the mandate freely given to him by party members.
“No amount of intimidation, sponsored propaganda, blackmail or political interference will force me to abandon the mandate given to me by party members,” he declared.
The embattled chairman also expressed appreciation to members of the press for what he described as their commitment to truth, fairness and responsible journalism.
