NDC Oredo Executives Petition Edo Leadership Over Campaign Committee Composition, Demand Inclusion Of All 12 Wards

Some executive members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have petitioned the party's state leadership over the composition of the local government campaign committee, alleging violations of the party's constitution and the exclusion of some wards.

In a petition dated October 13, 2026, and addressed to the Edo State Chairman of the NDC, Engr. David Olukoga, through the party's Edo South Deputy Chairman, Barr. Patrick Agbontaen, the aggrieved executives called for the immediate intervention of the state leadership to resolve the dispute.

The petition, signed by Assistant Publicity Secretary, Comr. Barr. Okhilua Osadebamen Spartacus; Organising Secretary, Comr. Igbinomwanhia Ade; and Welfare Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Ozue, accused the Oredo LGA Chairman, Mr. Tam Odiase, of unilaterally constituting the campaign committee without adequate consultation with members of the local government executive.

According to the petitioners, the development contradicts the provisions of the NDC constitution and previous directives from the state leadership on the need for inclusiveness, consultation and collective decision-making in the conduct of party affairs.

They recalled that at an expanded meeting between the State Working Committee and the Oredo Local Government Working Committee on September 11, 2026, Olukoga had reportedly cautioned Odiase against violating the party's constitution and urged him to involve all members of the local government executive in consultations and decisions concerning the party.

The petitioners, however, alleged that the local government chairman had continued to disregard the directive, citing the composition of the campaign committee as the latest instance of what they described as a breach of the party's constitutional provisions.

They explained that the Oredo LGA executive had agreed at a meeting in September that the Organising Secretary, Igbinomwanhia Ade, should coordinate and head the local government campaign committee.

The petitioners cited Articles 13:13.05 (iii) and (iv) of the NDC constitution, which they said empower the Organising Secretary to harmonise information and strategies for strengthening the party's electoral prospects and coordinate campaigns, rallies and other field activities.

They also referenced Article 22:02 (xiv), which they said empowers the Organising Secretary to head the Directorate of Contact, Campaign and Mobilisation, responsible for mobilising new members and coordinating external field activities and party operations with strategic organisations.

Despite these provisions, the petitioners alleged that Odiase appointed Mr. Nathaniel Igharo, whom they described as not being a member of the local government executive, as coordinator of the campaign committee without consulting the executive members.

They characterised the appointment as inconsistent with the party's constitutional provisions and the collective agreement reached by the local government executive.

The petitioners also raised concerns about what they described as inadequate ward representation in the campaign committee, alleging that six of the 12 wards in Oredo LGA—Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12—were excluded from the committee's composition.

They said attempts had been made to resolve the disagreement before the petition was submitted to the state leadership.

According to them, Comr. Barr. Okhilua Osadebamen Spartacus had written to the Oredo LGA chairman and executive members on September 27, 2026, in a letter titled “LGA Campaign Committee: A Point of Observation — The Need for Inclusiveness and Adherence to the NDC Constitution.”

They further stated that Spartacus raised the same constitutional concerns at an Oredo LGA meeting on October 3, 2026, but alleged that the issues remained unresolved.

The petitioners added that Ade, the Organising Secretary, and Barr. Mrs. Ifeoma Okaforeze, the Legal Adviser, had also expressed objections to the composition of the campaign committee on the party's official Oredo LGA WhatsApp platform.

In another allegation, the petitioners accused Igharo of threatening Spartacus following the latter's rejection of an offer to choose a position within the campaign committee.

They alleged that the threat was sent through a WhatsApp message on October 6, 2026, and subsequently deleted by the sender. According to the petition, Spartacus had already taken a screenshot of the message before it was deleted.

The petitioners described the alleged threat as a disturbing development in an internal party disagreement, arguing that disagreements over constitutional interpretation and party administration should be resolved through established procedures rather than intimidation.

They also questioned the circumstances surrounding the appointment, alleging that the controversy had fuelled suspicions among some party members about the motives behind the committee's composition. However, the petition did not provide independent evidence establishing any financial motive.

Expressing concern over the implications of the dispute for party unity, the petitioners warned that unresolved disagreements could undermine cooperation among party members ahead of forthcoming elections.

They consequently made four demands of the state leadership.

First, they called on Olukoga to convene a meeting involving members of the Oredo Local Government Working Committee, ward chairmen and secretaries, NDC candidates in Oredo and other relevant stakeholders to resolve the dispute.

Second, they demanded that Ade be allowed to exercise the powers and responsibilities of the Organising Secretary in coordinating and heading the local government campaign committee, in line with the constitutional provisions cited in the petition.

Third, they requested that Ade be given the right of first refusal to decide whether to accept or decline the position of coordinator or head of the campaign committee.

Fourth, they called for the reconstitution of the committee to ensure that all 12 wards in Oredo LGA are represented, specifically requesting the inclusion of Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12, which they alleged had been excluded.

The petitioners further warned that failure to address their concerns could compel them to withdraw from participating in the activities of the campaign committee.

They urged the state leadership to uphold the party's constitution, ensure fairness in its internal processes and promote inclusiveness in the administration of the Oredo LGA chapter.

The petitioners expressed hope that the state chairman would intervene and resolve the matter in a manner that would restore confidence among party members and prevent further escalation of the disagreement.

The allegations contained in the petition, including the claims of constitutional violations, improper committee composition and threats, could not be independently verified from the document alone. The responses of Oredo LGA Chairman Tam Odiase and the purported campaign committee coordinator, Nathaniel Igharo, were not included in the petition.