The leadership crisis in the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a fresh twist, as more than 80 party aspirants, under the umbrella of the Enugu G80, declared their support for the State Working Committee led by Dr Johnpaul Anih.

The endorsement followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of the coalition held on August 3, during which members unanimously resolved to recognise the Anih-led executive as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the coalition said its decision followed extensive consultations and a review of the circumstances surrounding the leadership dispute.

According to the group, the executive headed by Anih remains “the only leadership produced through a valid state congress conducted on May 4, 2026, in compliance with the party’s constitution and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

It added that “the legitimacy of that congress cannot be displaced by any parallel arrangement or externally imposed structure.”

The coalition formally endorsed the Anih-led executive, describing the move as one anchored on “justice, equity, constitutional order and respect for internal democracy.”

The aspirants also resolved to dissolve their individual political structures into the state executive to strengthen the party across Enugu’s 17 local government areas and pledged financial, moral and political support to the leadership.

Briefing members, Dr S.K.C. Ogbonnia urged party faithful to remain united in the interest of the party and democracy.

The coalition announced that it would formally write to the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, urging the national leadership to recognise the executive ’roduced through the state congress and restore constitutional order in the Enugu chapter.

In the letter signed by Ogbonnia, the group’s coordinator and NDC senatorial aspirant for Enugu West, and Chief Charles Solomon Ako, House of Representatives aspirant for Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency, the coalition appealed to the national leadership to reaffirm the Anih-led State Working Committee, reject attempts to sustain parallel executive structures, and ensure that all party organs recognise the congress-produced executive.

The G80 also called for the harmonisation of candidates produced by the two factions, insisting that the process must be anchored on the executive elected through the May 4 congress. (The Sun)

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