Storm in Ebonyi ADC as rival camps jostle for control

The political landscape in Nigeria's Ebonyi State is currently marked by significant internal strife within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The party is grappling with deepening factionalism, with rival blocs loyal to former state governor Dr. Sam Egwu and Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, a former aide to Minister of Works David Umahi, locked in a battle for control. This internal conflict poses a considerable threat to the ADC's prospects, particularly as the 2027 general elections draw nearer.

The article highlights the contentious nature of party congresses, which have led to the emergence of two distinct factional chairmen. The bloc aligned with Egwu held its congress at Preston Luxury Hotel, while Adibe-Nwafor's group, allegedly influenced by state powers, conducted theirs at the Great Aristocrat Hotel, both in Abakaliki. This division has created a leadership vacuum and fueled accusations, including claims that Adibe-Nwafor, despite being an ADC member, might be working for the ruling APC in the state – allegations she has vehemently denied.

Political watchers in Ebonyi express serious concern that if this crisis is not swiftly resolved, the ADC's chances of remaining a viable political force in the state are slim. The article notes that party faithful had previously worked together, but a recent decision at a meeting hosted by Egwu to present consensus candidates at the congresses fractured the unity. Adibe-Nwafor's rejection of this arrangement, which she feared would sideline her and her loyalists, appears to have exacerbated the discord. From an Ebonyi perspective, such internal party wrangling is a familiar, yet damaging, spectacle that often weakens opposition parties and benefits established political forces.

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I saw the crisis