NDC Crisis Deepens As Obi Camp, Party Official Clash

NDC Crisis Deepens As Obi Camp, Party Official Clash
2027 Election: Fresh Tension Hits NDC Over Disputed Party Logo
Peter Obi’s Aide, NDC Official Clash Over Party Logo Ahead Of 2027

Fresh tension has emerged within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following a public disagreement between aides of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and its national leader, Seriake Dickson, over the party’s logo ahead of the 2027 general election.

The dispute involves Esther Umoh, an aide and official photographer to Obi, and Theo Abu Agada, the NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the two exchanged words on 𝕏 after Umoh criticised the party leadership over what she described as a failure to clearly communicate the logo recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to candidates and supporters.

The controversy follows the circulation of different versions of the NDC logo, with some party members reportedly uncertain about the symbol to use on campaign materials.

Umoh urged the party leadership to issue an official directive to all state chapters identifying the logo approved by INEC.

She wrote, “Dear @TheoAbuAgada, in your capacity as a communications representative of the party, I respectfully urge you to ensure that @NigeriaNDCHQ addresses the ongoing issue surrounding the party’s logo decisively.

“With barely five months to the elections, there is already significant confusion at the grassroots.

“Candidates and supporters are uncertain about which logo to use on campaign materials, and this lack of clarity could affect the party’s cohesion, visibility and preparedness ahead of the elections.”

Abu Agada responded by objecting to Umoh’s description of Dickson as the party’s “Supreme Leader,” calling the expression inappropriate.

He said the logo issue had already been raised with the party’s national leadership and efforts were underway to resolve it.

He said, “Last week, I raised this issue with the National Leadership of the party, and efforts are being made to address it.

“As an employee of the presidential candidate of our great party, the NDC, I find it disrespectful and completely unacceptable to refer to our national leader, my boss, as a ‘Supreme Leader’, a nomenclature that denotes an authoritarian regime, which Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is not known for.”

Umoh later returned to the issue, citing the NDC governorship campaign in Delta State.

She argued that the uncertainty over the logo could affect the party’s chances in the state, where she said the party had strong support.

Abu Agada responded that he would defend himself against attacks.

“Let me make this abundantly clear: anyone who comes for me, I will defend myself and put the person in their place. I take no prisoners,” he said.

The disagreement has raised fresh questions about the relationship between the NDC’s existing leadership structure and supporters who followed Obi into the party.

The logo dispute is also linked to an ongoing legal battle over the party’s registration and electoral symbol.

Reports indicated that INEC had previously raised concerns over a version of the NDC logo featuring a two finger victory sign because of its alleged similarity to existing political symbols.

The Peace Movement Party has also reportedly laid claim to a similar symbol.

A related case concerning the recognition of the NDC is before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

Amid the disagreement, Dickson met with Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Thursday. The meeting was described by party sources as an effort to ease tensions and strengthen preparations for the 2027 election.

Dickson later called on members and supporters to remain united and work together for victory.

A senior NDC official also explained that the party’s original logo remains its legally recognised symbol.

According to the official, the party had proposed another design featuring a blue and white background and a digital fingerprint, which was submitted to INEC.

The source said the proposed logo was briefly recognised before the electoral commission reverted to the original symbol.

The official said, “What they said is that in the eye of the law, it is the old one that is our logo, because that is the one registered with INEC.

“The most popular one, which is the digital finger, is not yet registered but INEC is aware of it.”