The Enugu State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held two parallel congresses on Saturday, resulting in the emergence of two separate chairmen amid a declaration by the state chairperson that the exercise remains suspended.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State descended into further leadership turmoil on Saturday, April 11, 2026, as two parallel congresses were held at separate venues within the Enugu metropolis. The fractionalized exercises resulted in the emergence of two rival state chairmen and executive committees: one led by retired Major General Chris Eze and the other by Professor Austine Akulue. Despite the internal friction, both factions adhered to the party’s zoning arrangement by selecting leaders from the Enugu North Senatorial District. The emergence of two distinct leadership structures reflects the deepening schism within the party’s state branch as it prepares for future electoral cycles.
In his acceptance speech following his emergence, Major General (Rtd.) Chris Eze emphasized a commitment to disciplined leadership, vowing to elevate the party’s profile in Enugu through strict ethical standards. He described the chairmanship as a serious responsibility and assured party faithful of his team’s resilience. “I will not accept any inducement from any source whatsoever to do anything that will negatively impact the party. I will not spare any member of the party’s executive at any level in Enugu State who accepts such inducement,” Eze declared, promising to run the party with “absolute integrity, incorruptibility, and transparency.”
However, the legitimacy of both congresses was immediately called into question by the party’s incumbent state chairperson, Mrs. Stella Chukwuma. Distancing herself and her recognized executives from the Saturday events, Mrs. Chukwuma maintained that the ADC national leadership or relevant state authorities had already suspended the congresses in Enugu. She dismissed the rival gatherings as unauthorized, stating that the ADC congresses in Enugu State remained suspended and anything other than that was none of her business. This internal standoff mirrors the broader leadership crisis currently rocking the national body of the ADC, leaving the legal status of the Enugu chapter in a state of uncertainty.
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