The leadership crisis rocking the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) took a fresh twist on Monday as the State Chairman, Dr. Johnpaul Anih, accused some members of the party’s national leadership of orchestrating a campaign of propaganda and intimidation to forcefully take over the party structure in the state.
Addressing journalists during a press conference in Enugu on May 25, 2026, Anih dismissed allegations of impersonation, fraud, and illegal parading of himself as chairman, insisting that he emerged through a valid congress monitored by security agencies and electoral officials.
The embattled chairman was reacting to a disclaimer reportedly issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Osa Director Esq., challenging his legitimacy as chairman of the NDC in Enugu State.
“My attention has been drawn to a laughable disclaimer and malicious publication issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director Esq., in which I was falsely accused of impersonation, fraud, and illegally parading myself as Chairman of the party in Enugu State,” Anih said.
He described the allegations as reckless and politically motivated, warning that he would not surrender the mandate given to him by party members through what he called propaganda and backdoor arrangements.
“Ordinarily, I would have ignored such reckless and desperate allegations, but silence in the face of falsehood would amount to surrendering the truth to political opportunists bent on hijacking the party through intimidation, propaganda, and backdoor arrangements,” he stated.
Anih insisted that he remained the authentic chairman of the party in the state, stressing that the congress which produced him was validly conducted at Aborigen Hall and Premises in Enugu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the only valid congresses for the Enugu State chapter of the NDC were already done and dusted with the State, concluding with the State congress, which took place at Aborigen Hall and Premises, Enugu, in the presence of the media, security agencies, and electoral officials,” he said.
“That congress produced me as Chairman of the NDC in Enugu State.”
He alleged that the congress was attacked by thugs sponsored by individuals desperate to seize control of the party structure.
“Although we were brutally attacked by thugs sponsored by the same persons bent on hijacking the party structure by fire and by force, they failed woefully,” he declared.
“We possess video evidence of the authentic congress that produced me and my executive members, as conducted by the Congress Committee assigned by the national leadership of the party.”
The NDC chairman further accused the party’s National Publicity Secretary of contradicting established facts regarding the leadership structure of the party in Enugu State.
According to him, some individuals from the national secretariat had secretly written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking approval to conduct fresh ward, local government, and state congresses in the state after the original congresses had already been concluded.
“It is also on record that on 5th May, 2026, certain individuals from the national secretariat of our party wrote to INEC seeking approval to conduct Ward, Local Government, and State congresses of the party on May 16, 17, and 18, 2026,” he stated.
“Even though the electoral umpire acknowledged receipt of the letter on 8th May, these individuals hid the information until the 14th of May when the planned illegality and coups was stopped by an order of a competent court of law on the 15th of May.”
Anih maintained that no valid congress was conducted afterward, insisting that the attempt to organise another exercise was effectively halted by the court.
“For emphasis, there was no known congress conducted anywhere in the state, as the attempted illegitimate exercise organised after party members had already rejected such arrangements never took place,” he added.
The factional chairman also challenged the National Publicity Secretary to provide evidence supporting claims that he sold nomination and expression of interest forms to aspirants.
“I challenge the National Publicity Secretary to provide evidence of any individual to whom I sold expression of interest or nomination forms, as he falsely claimed in his publication, or be ready to face the legal consequences,” he warned.
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 protem chairman.
“There are credible reports that State Assembly aspirants in Enugu State are currently being compelled to pay the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Naira into a personal account allegedly controlled by the purported protem chairman,” he alleged.
He urged the national leadership of the party to investigate the allegation instead of engaging in what he described as media warfare capable of damaging the image of the party.
Reaffirming his position, Anih insisted that no amount of intimidation, propaganda, or political interference would force him to relinquish his mandate.
“I, Dr. Johnpaul Anih, remain the authentic Chairman produced through a transparent and credible congress process. I remain committed to the growth, stability, and electoral success of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Enugu State,” he said.
“No amount of intimidation, sponsored propaganda, blackmail, or political interference will force me to abandon the mandate given by party members.”
