ADC leadership crisis deepens in Ebonyi as parallel congresses produce two chairmen
A leadership crisis has emerged in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State after parallel congresses held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Abakaliki produced two different state chairmen.
A leadership crisis has emerged in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State after parallel congresses held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Abakaliki produced two different state chairmen.
In one factional congress, Mr. Silas Onu was elected as state chairman, while a separate faction returned the former chairperson, Jennifer Adibe Nwafor, as chairman for a second term.
The Silas Onu-led group is widely regarded as the faction recognised by the David Mark-led national leadership of the party. Its congress was supervised by Uche Onyeaguocha, who chaired the Ebonyi State Congress Committee and announced the results.
Onu, from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, emerged alongside other members of the State Working Committee (SWC), including Anya Idika as Publicity Secretary and Ogbonna Bakare as Vice Chairman. The executives were elected unopposed through voice votes and immediately sworn in.
Read Also: NDLEA arrests 93-year-old great grandpa, medical doctor for skunk, cocaine, trafficking
Speaking after his emergence, Onu commended party members for conducting themselves peacefully and expressed confidence in the party’s growing influence in Ebonyi State. He criticised the ruling party in the state over alleged poor governance and pledged that the ADC would present credible candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also emphasised grassroots mobilisation and inclusiveness as key priorities of his leadership.
However, Onyeaguocha dismissed reports of factionalisation, insisting that the congress he supervised remains the only legitimate exercise recognised by the party’s national leadership, describing contrary claims as false and misleading.
In a parallel development, another faction held its congress at Aristocrats Hotel along Ezza Road, where Jennifer Adibe Nwafor was returned unopposed as state chairman for a second term through a consensus arrangement reportedly endorsed by 1,213 delegates out of over 1,200 accredited participants.
Other officials elected at the parallel congress include Mgbroko Chukwudi N. as Secretary and Okpara Emmanuel N. as Deputy Chairman.
In her acceptance speech, Nwafor thanked party members for their continued confidence and pledged to strengthen party structures while working toward electoral success in 2027.
She also assured members of collaboration with the ADC’s national leadership to reposition the party for greater relevance.
The emergence of two chairmen underscores growing internal divisions within the Ebonyi chapter of the ADC, with reports of parallel congresses fueling concerns about factional control.
Political observers warn that unless the dispute is urgently resolved, it could weaken the party’s cohesion and undermine its chances in future elections.
