NDC Disowns Alleged Enugu Factional Chairman

Fresh cracks have emerged within the Nigeria Democratic Congress after the party’s national leadership publicly disowned one John Paul Anih, accusing him of impersonation, conducting an illegal state congress, and allegedly defrauding political aspirants in Enugu State.
In a strongly worded disclaimer issued on Saturday, the party said Anih was neither the Enugu State Chairman of the NDC nor authorised to act on behalf of the party in any capacity.
The NDC insisted that the authentic and legally recognised Enugu State Chairman remains Ibuchukwu Obeta.
According to the statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Anih allegedly organised what the party described as a “kangaroo congress” where he installed himself as state chairman despite lacking official recognition from the national leadership.
The party further alleged that while a court matter relating to the dispute is still pending in Enugu, Anih proceeded to reproduce and distribute what it called forged copies of the party’s Expression of Interest forms to unsuspecting aspirants.
The NDC warned members of the public, politicians, and party supporters against engaging in any transaction with Anih, insisting that anyone dealing with him does so entirely at their own risk.
“What is happening is an organised attempt to impersonate the party structure in Enugu State,” the statement said.
The controversy deepened after the party alleged that Anih recently set up a parallel screening committee for House of Assembly aspirants in Enugu State, which the NDC described as fraudulent and unauthorised.
To counter what it called misinformation and extortion, the party released the names of its officially recognised three-man screening committee for Enugu State, headed by Hon. Sylvester O. Nwankwo, with Barrister Ifeanyi Emmanuel Agbom serving as secretary and Ngene Helen Funmilola as member.
The party stressed that any other group or individuals claiming to screen aspirants on behalf of the NDC in Enugu should be treated as impostors.
The latest development adds to growing concerns over internal disputes, factional battles, and leadership crises increasingly affecting political parties ahead of the next election cycle.
The NDC maintained that John Paul Anih remains unauthorised to represent the party in any form and accused him of exploiting the ongoing political process to allegedly extort unsuspecting politicians.