Okonkwo Warns of Sabotage as ADC Crisis Deepens in Enugu

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has raised the alarm over a plot to destabilise the party’s Enugu State chapter ahead of its planned congresses. Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, Okonkwo alleged that the party is under siege from “internal moles” and external actors linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He claimed these forces aim to weaken the ADC to ensure the APC faces no credible opposition in the 2027 general elections. The veteran actor and politician warned that internal sabotage remains the single greatest threat to the party’s survival.

The crisis appears to stem from conflicting administrative directives issued by the party’s national leadership. Okonkwo accused the National Organising Secretary of issuing three different letters appointing various congress committees within a mere 48-hour window. This bureaucratic chaos has reportedly thrown the Enugu chapter into confusion, leaving members unsure of which body is legally authorised to conduct the upcoming exercise. Okonkwo insists that any congress held in violation of the party’s constitution will be considered null and void.

Allegations of a “grand design” to hijack the party’s structure have further soured the internal atmosphere. Okonkwo claimed that nomination forms are being sold to individuals who have never attended an ADC meeting, effectively sidelining legacy members. He characterised these newcomers as tools for external interests seeking to truncate the party’s growth in the South-East. Despite the friction, he maintained that there are no formal factions within the ADC, only “intimate enemies” working to trigger a collapse from within.

The Enugu State executive remains loyal to the national leadership under David Mark, according to Okonkwo. However, the discrepancies in documentation and committee appointments have led some members to threaten legal action. Okonkwo has reportedly been pleading for calm to prevent the dispute from entering the courtroom, which would likely freeze party activities in the state. He expressed a desire to keep the Enugu chapter as a model for internal democracy, provided the current “infiltration” is checked.

The timing of this crisis is particularly sensitive as parties begin positioning for the next election cycle. The ADC has often attempted to present itself as a viable “third force” in Nigerian politics, but frequent internal squabbles have historically limited its impact. If the allegations of APC interference are true, it suggests a broader strategy by the ruling party to consolidate its hold on the region by fragmenting the opposition. For now, the ADC’s ability to conduct a credible congress in Enugu hangs in the balance.

Nigeria’s political landscape is frequently marred by such “mole” allegations, which often precede formal defections or the emergence of splinter groups. Okonkwo’s public outcry serves as both a warning to party loyalists and a plea for intervention from the national working committee. Without a swift resolution to the committee disputes, the ADC risks entering the 2027 season as a fractured house. The coming weeks will determine if the party can purge its perceived infiltrators or if it will succumb to the very confusion Okonkwo fears.