The Ward Executive Committee of Obiozara in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the Ebonyi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced the suspension of Mr. Silas Onu for a period of three months over alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and breaches of party discipline.
The decision was conveyed in a formal letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to Onu. The correspondence was jointly signed by the Acting Chairman of Obiozara Ward, Mr. Nwachukwu Peter Obinna, and the Acting Secretary, Mr. Akuma Martins.
According to the ward leadership, the disciplinary measure was taken pursuant to provisions of the ADC constitution, which empower ward executives to enforce party discipline, as well as relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2026.
The suspension also mandates Onu to appear before a seven-member disciplinary committee constituted to further investigate the allegations against him.
The ward executives outlined multiple infractions allegedly committed by Onu, including the purported hijacking of both the party’s National Screening Committee and National Electoral Committee processes, as well as the conduct of what they described as an illegal congress.
They further alleged that Onu’s actions were aimed at disenfranchising legitimate party members who had duly obtained nomination forms to contest for various positions.
The statement credited the intervention of the State Chairman, Dr. Mrs. Jennifer Adibe, with averting what it termed a “subversive act,” noting that she exercised her constitutional authority to oversee party activities, facilitate congresses, and establish a State Screening Committee to ensure procedural compliance.
A central component of the allegations is that Onu engaged in impersonation during the party’s recent National Convention, where he allegedly presented himself as the Ebonyi State Chairman of the ADC.
The ward executives accused him of misleading the party’s national leadership and delegates, describing the act as criminal in nature.
Additional grounds cited for the suspension include alleged financial exploitation of party members, fostering factionalization within the state chapter, and violations of party membership protocols.
Specifically, the ward leadership claimed that Onu’s membership documentation did not meet constitutional requirements, as it allegedly lacked the necessary endorsements from ward officials.
The statement further accused Onu of exacerbating divisions within the party by creating parallel leadership structures in Ebonyi State, thereby undermining party unity and cohesion.
Effective immediately, the suspension bars Onu from holding any party office at all levels, representing the ADC in any capacity, attending official party functions, or exercising membership rights, including voting.
The letter also emphasized that Onu has been publicly presenting himself as the ADC Chairman in Ebonyi State despite allegedly lacking recognition from his ward.
It claimed that ward leaders had no prior knowledge of him and that he did not possess a valid, duly endorsed party membership card.
Onu has been given a 14-day window, effective from April 22, 2026, to appear before the disciplinary committee. Failure to do so, the ward executives warned, would be interpreted as a waiver of his right to defend himself, paving the way for further disciplinary action.
However, in a swift rebuttal, Onu dismissed the suspension as baseless and politically motivated.
In a counter statement issued on April 24, 2026, he described the purported ward officials as impostors and accused them of orchestrating a smear campaign to damage his reputation.
Onu specifically faulted the publication of the allegations, alleging a lack of due diligence by the media outlet involved. He denied all accusations, particularly claims of impersonation and financial misconduct, and warned that both the individuals behind the allegations and the publishing platform could face legal action for defamation.
He further asserted that all 171 wards in Ebonyi State currently have duly elected substantive executives, dismissing the notion of “acting” ward officials as unconstitutional.
According to him, the legitimate Chairman of Obiozara Ward is Mr. Godwin Njoku, whom he said would not be associated with the actions in question.
Onu, who identified himself as the Chairman-elect of the ADC in Ebonyi State, indicated that steps were already being taken to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for what he termed a “libelous publication.”
Our correspondent reports that the development has underscored deepening internal tensions within the ADC in Ebonyi State, with competing claims to leadership and legitimacy now threatening party cohesion ahead of future political engagements.
