By Mary Ugorji
Tension has continued to rise within the Imo State chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) as party stakeholders, members, and supporters staged a protest against what they described as an alleged attempt by “political hijackers” to destabilize and hijack the structure of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protesters, drawn from the three geopolitical zones of Imo State Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu gathered to express their support for the leadership of the state chairman, Barr. Reginald Okechukwu Uwakwe, while insisting that all congresses in the state had already been validly conducted and concluded in line with the timetable approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking during the protest, a party stakeholder from Owerri Zone, Mr. Oparugo Okechukwu U. stated that the NDC in Imo State remains united and free from internal crisis, warning individuals and groups allegedly attempting to create division within the party to desist immediately.
According to him, the ward, local government, and state congresses had already been concluded successfully across the state, adding that the emergence of groups allegedly planning another congress was unacceptable and capable of causing confusion within the party.
“We do not have any internal issue in Imo State NDC. Barrister Reginald Okechukwu Uwakwe remains the duly recognized state chairman of the party in Imo State. We are warning political hijackers and political kidnappers who want to destabilize this party to stay away,” he declared.
Okechukwu U. further alleged that some individuals recently admitted into the party were now attempting to manipulate the party structure for personal interests.
“This is a party we have labored to build ahead of the 2027 election. We cannot allow people who contributed nothing to the growth of the party to suddenly come in and attempt to hijack its leadership,” he added.
Also addressing journalists, an NDC member from Okigwe Zone and Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Samson Nike, emphasized that the protest was aimed at defending transparency, due process, and democratic principles within the party.
He explained that the party in Imo State had already complied with INEC’s approved timetable by conducting congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels.
“We believe in transparency and due process. The ideals being promoted by leaders like Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are anchored on fairness and credibility, not the buying of positions with money,” he said.
Nike accused unnamed individuals of allegedly attempting to influence party leadership through financial inducement, warning that members would resist any effort to impose leadership on the party.
“What we are witnessing is an attempt by opposition-sponsored elements to infiltrate and destroy the NDC structure in Imo State. Some people believe they can use money to buy the party structure, but we are saying no to that,” he stated.
He further maintained that grassroots supporters across the state had embraced the NDC and were determined to ensure the party succeeds in Imo State.
In a similar reaction, Mr. Chidebere David Okeugo from Orlu Zone reiterated the protesters’ opposition to vote-buying, imposition, and unnecessary litigation within the party.
“We are here to tell the whole world that NDC members in Imo State reject any attempt to manipulate the party through money or court cases. Congresses have already been concluded at all levels, and we want peace and unity within the party,” he said.
Okeugo appealed to national leaders of the party, including prominent political figures associated with the coalition movement, to urgently intervene and prevent what he described as attempts to destabilize the party in Imo State.
The protesters unanimously maintained that NDC in Imo State remains united under the leadership of Barr. Reginald Okechukwu Uwakwe and warned against any parallel congress or actions capable of creating factionalization within the party.
Chanting solidarity songs and slogans such as “No to Political Hijackers” and “NDC, Service to the People,” the demonstrators insisted that the party’s structure in Imo State must be protected from external interference and internal manipulation ahead of the 2027 elections.
