'Charity Begins at Home' -Enugu NDC Aspirants tell Peter Obi

Over 80 aggrieved aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Enugu State have told the party's Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi to organize the party in his south east home front first before going into the larger Nigeria space.

The Aggrieved aspirants made the call following the alleged financial extortion on them in the party primary processes, which they have also threatened legal action for violations of the Electoral Act 2026 by the party leaders.

They particularly pointed accusing fingers on four leaders of the NDC in Enugu state, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Gen. Fidelis Azinta (Rtd.), Mr. John Nwokeabia and Chief Mathias Omeh, whom the aggrieved aspirants passed a vote of no confidence on as perpetrators of their woes.

In a communique issued in Enugu, the Forum of Aspirants including, Dr. SKC Ogbonnia; Hon. Joseph Udedi, Barr. Charles Solo Ako, Chief Chidubem Ekwo, and Engr. Agu Cyprian Ifeanyi, among many others, said that the Enugu State chapter of the NDC has deviated from the party’s founding ideals of electoral integrity, democratic principles and zero tolerance for corruption.

The forum said it joined the NDC under the leadership of Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso bound by a sacred pact: the unyielding belief that a New Nigeria is possible.

The aspirants alleged that no direct primaries were conducted in Enugu State and there was “absolutely no attempt to engage in consensus building” — the two methods permitted by the Electoral Act of 2026 for nominating candidates. 

“Consequently, the Enugu State NDC cannot, and must not, nominate any candidates for upcoming elections without meeting these legal requirements. Proceeding to submit names under the current circumstances constitutes a flagrant disregard for extant laws.”

The group also accused individuals grandstanding as titular leaders of the party in the state of subjecting aspirants to extensive and massive financial extortion.

“This structural corruption is completely destroying the 'zero-corruption' pillar upon which our movement was built,” they said. 

They cited severe anti-party activities that have plunged the Enugu State NDC into an unprecedented crisis.

The aspirants called on the Presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, who they said is responsible for overseeing candidate emergence in the Southeast, to intervene.

"Charity must begin at home. His appointees and designated leaders in the Southeast, particularly in Enugu State, have failed the party miserably. Mr. Obi must not spare these individuals or overlook their excesses if he wishes to save the party from total collapse in the zone,” they directed.

The forum warned against imposing candidates, citing the recent Enugu North Senatorial election where they said the NDC candidate polled 3,000 votes while the APC candidate got 162,000 votes.  

“This embarrassing outing is the direct and undeniable consequence of imposing unpopular, unvetted candidates on the electorate while bypassing internal democracy,” they noted.

The aspirants said that all internal party mechanisms had been exhausted with silence and defiance as the response. 

“We will not hesitate to explore every available legal option to challenge the illegalities in the Enugu State NDC,” they stated, adding they are prepared to approach the courts over “gross violations of the Electoral Act of 2026 and the massive extortion of aspirants.”