ADC: Three State Chairmen Emerge as Party holds parallel Congresses in Enugu

Three contending chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have emerged in Enugu state following different state Congresses that members of the opposition party held, on Saturday.

There had been rifts in the party in the state since the coalition of different political parties that fused into the ADC with David Mark as the national chairman.

Whereas interests from the former Labour Party members had tried to push out Mrs Stella Chukwuma, who they met as the state chairman of the ADC when they joined, the original members of the party and other entrants protected her to hold her ground as the state chairman.

Following pressures and other forces from the national factions of the ADC, Mrs Chukwuma was said to have yielded to the Ibe Kachikwu third faction of the party, claiming originality of the ADC.

When contacted by DAILY INSIDER to confirm her position on the Congresses held on Saturday, Mrs Chukwuma said that she was inside an aircraft and could not talk.

Nevertheless, a faction of the ADC, purportedly loyal to the party's Presidential aspirant, Mr. Peter Obi, held its own Congress at Emene and elected Prof Austin Akubue as it's state Chairman.

The Akubue-led faction is said to enjoy the support of former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Senator Gil Nnaji, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa and other governorship and national Assembly aspirants in the ADC. Gill Nnaji made a brief appearance at the venue of the Congress but left in protest of the list of executive committee of the party.

Another faction of the party believed to be in support of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar held its Congress at a hotel in Independence layout where it elected General Chris Eze (rtd) as the state chairman.

Eze, a former State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Ambassador to India, reportedly emerged through a voice vote together with Prince Acharabuagu Kingsley as Vice Chairman, Enugu North Zone, and Lolo Queen N. Nwankwo as State Organising Secretary, alongside other executives.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of the newly elected executive, Eze pledged to run an inclusive administration that would carry all members along in the affairs of the party. He assured aspirants of a level playing ground in the forthcoming party primaries in the state.

In a statement issued by Comrade Adolphus Udeh, Eze further declared that the ADC is positioning itself to take over power in Enugu State in the 2027 general elections, with a vision to establishing a people-oriented and grassroots-driven government capable of delivering democratic dividends.