Storm in Ebonyi ADC as rival camps jostle for control

The African Democratic Congress in Ebonyi State is grappling with deepening internal divisions as rival blocs loyal to Sam Egwu and Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor battle for control ahead of the 2027 elections, writes EDWARD NNACHI

The Ebonyi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress is currently threatened by factionalisation and the alleged activities of moles as the 2027 general elections draw nearer. This stems from the fact that the ADC in Ebonyi State is structured along two blocs. While some members are said to be loyal to a former governor of the state, Dr Sam Egwu, others are believed to pay allegiance to another group led by Mrs Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, a former aide to ex-governor and current Minister of Works, David Umahi.

Speculations, which have on several occasions made the rounds in the state, claimed Adibe-Nwafor is an employee of the Ebonyi State Government and inadvertently works for the APC in the state. A social media critic, Chika Nwoba, once alleged that Adibe-Nwafor was an ADC member in the day, and an APC member at night. Adibe-Nwafor had since denied those allegations at different fora. She said those accusing her of anti-party deals were the real enemies of the ADC and were doing everything to edge her out.

The party under the watch of the two blocs recently held state congresses, and two factional chairmen emerged. While the group loyal to Egwu held its congress at Preston Luxury Hotel, the bloc, allegedly believed to be under the whims and caprices of the powers that be in the state, conducted its at the Great Aristocrat Hotel, all in Abakaliki. While Barrister Silas Onu, a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state, emerged as the factional chairman of the Egwu bloc, Adibe-Nwafor returned as the leader of her group.

Until her role as the chairman of ADC, Adibe-Nwafor was a special assistant to the inter-party affairs and later became the chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council in the state.

Party faithful loyal to the two blocs had worked together until August 2025, when Adibe-Nwafor was given a vote of confidence to continue as chairman of the ADC in the state. The current imbroglio rocking the two blocs ensued during a meeting at the residence of Egwu, when a decision was made to present consensus candidates at the just-concluded congresses of the party. Worried that the brokered consensus arrangement might throw her and her loyalists out of the party, Adibe-Nwafor vehemently rejected the idea. She alleged that Egwu and his followers were instigating discord among party stakeholders.

Amid the power game, after their parallel congresses last week, the two blocs are currently laying claims to the party’s leadership in the state. According to political watchers, if this current crisis is not quickly resolved, the party’s chances of survival ahead of the 2027 general elections are slim.

A national political figure and chieftain of the Labour Party in the state, who pleaded anonymity, said, “I saw the crisis in ADC come this day, the real reason most of us stayed away.”

Lending his voice to the development, the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Dr Kingsley Agbor, said he was not surprised by the turn of events at the state chapter of the ADC. According to him, most politicians in the state play politics of selfishness and self-enrichment rather than better the lot of the poor masses.

He said, “Any decision collectively taken by the party in adherence to their constitution, I believe, is in the best interest of the generality of the party members. Adibe-Nwafor, I think, should rally their members to decide what is best for them.

“With the type of defections that we have seen in most recent times, including sitting and former governors and the Senate president, sabotage from a former governor is not surprising. 98 per cent of Ebonyi politicians, no matter how highly placed, are mere sycophants and lack integrity.

“Dave once called them his boys who will definitely move over to him. To my greatest shock, that is exactly how it happened, even in less than three years. So, a former governor sabotaging the ADC in Ebonyi state is not surprising because all of them have proved that they are saboteurs and mere sycophants.”

But, a 2023 Labour Party senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Hon. Linus Okorie, said the party was merely sorting out its internal affairs, which, according to him, was necessary for its growth.

He said, “What is happening in the ADC today is not a hijack, but a consolidation of a broad opposition coalition determined to rescue Nigeria from hardship, insecurity, and economic decline.

“In Ebonyi State, as at the national level, the party is undergoing a process of renewal and strategic alignment. That is not only healthy—it is necessary for building a strong, competitive political platform.”

On rejection of the consensus arrangement by Adibe-Nwafor, he added, “The law is clear: political parties have the autonomy to manage their internal affairs. Consensus is a legally recognised method under the Electoral Act for selecting party officials and candidates.

“The ADC in Ebonyi adopted zoning and consensus as a structured approach to ensure balance and unity. While individuals may disagree—especially where personal expectations are involved—such disagreements do not invalidate the process. What strengthens a party’s public image is discipline, unity, and respect for its internal decisions.

“Senator Sam Egwu is a respected leader with a well-established record of service – as Governor, Minister, and Senator. It is difficult to see any basis for claims that he would undermine the party he is helping to build.

“Political tensions often come with differing interests, but the reality is that his leadership has helped stabilise and position the ADC as a credible alternative in Ebonyi. With the current momentum, the party is well placed to compete strongly in 2027.

“The ADC is not in a survival situation. What we are seeing are normal internal dynamics that come with growth. The way forward is clear: strengthen unity, consolidate structures, and stay focused on the bigger objective of providing credible leadership to the people.

“If the party maintains this direction, it will not just survive- it will emerge stronger.”

Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the party in Ebonyi State and a former senatorial candidate, Silas Onu, debunked any attempt at hijacking the party in the state. According to him, such allegations were both unfounded.

According to him, what has become worrisome is a situation where unscrupulous individuals who were long planted in the party to control opposition political parties, adding that those puppets were yet to come to terms with the fact that a new ADC has emerged.

He said, “What we have are some political puppets planted in the ADC, long before the coalition came to fruition, to control opposition parties in Ebonyi. These same puppets have refused to come to terms with the fact that there is now a new ADC in which their agenda cannot gain ground anymore.

“So, the party has repositioned itself for effective participation in Ebonyi politics and invites Ebonyians to register en masse to ensure that participatory democracy is sustained in Nigeria. The ADC is now a party to contend with, and we are going to have sweeping victories across the state and Nigeria at large.

“The ADC in Ebonyi State did not adopt anyone as a consensus candidate; the various political zones did that for offices zoned to them. Like any other political party, the ADC has the political right to zone its offices for political expediency and inclusion. That the zoning has not favoured any desperate political puppet does not invalidate the same. So, someone planted as a mole can never say or do anything that will promote the body in any way.”

For Onu, Egwu has done nothing but reposition the party in the state towards progress and resounding victories in the 2027 election cycle.

“This lamentation came late, and it is from those whose agenda was to strangulate the ADC. We thank God for the leadership of His Excellency, Dr Sam Egwu.

“ADC will continue to connect with Ebonyi people. We will be having a household party by the end of this year. Our party will be on the lips of a majority of Ebonyians. We will surprise the naysayers,” he noted.

Speaking in an interview, Adibe-Nwafor said there was a grand plot to take over her position by people who were alien to the party.

According to her, allegations that she works for the ruling APC were a ploy by mischief makers to discredit her numerous efforts geared towards repositioning the coalition party in Ebonyi State.

She said, “I want to appreciate the people for the trust they bestowed on me to serve them again as the chairman of ADC in Ebonyi State.

“It’s clearly stated in the ADC constitution that the state organises the congress. So, if you are not here, it means you are not part of what we are doing here today – that’s the state congress. The venue of today’s Congress was clearly stated, and where we are now is the venue of the congress. So, if some people are elsewhere doing anything outside of what we are doing here, I wouldn’t call it congress. The real Congress is the one we just finished here.

“The allegation that I’m not an ADC member and that I work for the APC is a frivolous allegation being spearheaded by mischief makers. I was elected as the ADC Chairman in Ebonyi State in May 2022, and I’m surprised when some people say that someone put me there as a stooge.”

He reasoned that nobody knew that ADC would be a party for the coalition.

“As of last May, the national leadership asked us to pray so that the party would be adopted by the coalition members, because they were already tilting towards the Social Democratic Party.

“However, the moment the ADC was chosen, a lot of mischief makers started springing up here and there, and started saying all manner of things because they had seen what was coming into the party. Now they feel that those who laboured for the party should be swept out for them to take over. It has just dawned on me now that if people want to take your position, they can do anything to achieve that. But today’s congress here should say more than words that we are the authentic ADC members in Ebonyi State,” he explained.