Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A simmering political storm has erupted within the newly formed coalition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress as supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have launched a blistering attack on the party's South-West chairperson, Dayo Ekong, demanding her immediate resignation over allegations of past sabotage and collaboration with the opposition to undermine Obi's presidential ambition.
Less than 24 hours after Obi officially defected to the NDC alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the grassroots 'Obidient' movement took to social media to express their fury, accusing Ekong of being a political mole who cannot be trusted to lead the party's structure in the strategic South-Western region. The controversy underscores the fragile unity of Nigeria's opposition as it attempts to forge a formidable front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The target of the backlash, Pastor Mrs. Dayo Ekong, is the former Lagos State chairperson of the Labour Party's faction loyal to the embattled national chairman, Julius Abure. She resigned from the LP on April 3, 2026, alongside Dudu Manuga, citing protracted internal crises and legal disputes. Days later, she joined the newly registered NDC and was promptly named among the six new national vice-chairpersons representing the geo-political zones of the party.
Ekong's troubles began in earnest after she posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) welcoming Obi and Kwankwaso to the NDC. "We warmly welcome every Nigerian who has joined this transformative movement," she wrote. "Together, through the NDC, we are committed to rebuilding our nation and creating the Nigeria we all envision." However, rather than embracing the gesture, Obi's supporters flooded the comments section, dredging up her past roles within the Labour Party and accusing her of playing a role in facilitating Obi's exit from the LP due to internal sabotage.
One of the most widely circulated responses came from user @TrendfusionNG, who wrote, "Pastor Mrs. Dayo Ekong must resign immediately as chairman of the NDC southwest. Her past actions are not opinions — they are documented facts. It was her public statements and manoeuvres that complicated Peter Obi's position in the Labour Party, ultimately contributing to his exit. Now the same individual seeks to lead a critical bloc in the NDC while reportedly maintaining ties to the APC and the Tinubu machinery. We cannot fundraise, buy forms, and mobilise voters only to hand our structures to a known political saboteur."
The accusations against Ekong stem from her tenure as a prominent figure in the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party. She was a vocal defender of Abure's leadership at a time when many within the party were calling for his removal to pave the way for a more unified structure. In May 2025, the Labour Party in Lagos State actually announced her suspension, accusing her of gross misconduct. However, she defied the suspension, continuing to hold rallies and lead campaigns for the local government elections under the Abure banner.
During a BusinessDay interview in May 2025, Ekong had staunchly defended the embattled national chairman, stating that Julius Abure could not be removed except through congress. She dismissed attempts to replace him as a "joke" and insisted that the party leadership under Abure remained legitimate. Obi's supporters now point to these actions as evidence that she was actively working against the former governor, frustrating attempts to sanitize the party and reform its leadership.
The backlash also extends beyond past political grievances. Some supporters have suggested that Ekong may still be loyal to the establishment. User @manzpassion warned, "There's a reason why they positioned this woman in southwest and Lagos. NDC should, as a matter of urgency, remove this woman from any position, otherwise we will see a repeat of 2023. She and all her chairmen in different LGs should be discarded."
Another commenter, @special_Ada_Ide, questioned her political loyalty, adding, "Whoever allowed you into NDC needs to be investigated. You followed and destroyed LP, now they have sent you to NDC again. Obidients, make we no make a second mistake about this woman."
The demands for Ekong's resignation highlight a significant trust deficit between the grassroots supporters who propelled Obi and some of the political elites who have recently flocked to the NDC. The 'Obidient' movement has long been characterized as a grassroots, anti-establishment force that is deeply suspicious of traditional political wheeling and dealing. The presence of figures with ties to the Abure-led LP, which many supporters view as a corrupt and obstructive force, has triggered fears of infiltration.
As of the time of filing this report, Dayo Ekong had not publicly responded to the calls for her resignation. Her social media account and party statements remain focused on the message of welcoming new members, ignoring the firestorm of criticism directed at her.
Despite the optics of a grand opposition coalition, with Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso standing shoulder to shoulder, the conflict over Ekong reveals deep fractures that could undermine the coalition's potential. The South-West geopolitical zone is arguably the most prized political territory in Nigeria, and the NDC needs a strong, trusted leadership there to compete with President Bola Tinubu's stronghold in the All Progressives Congress. If Obi's own loyalists refuse to accept the current leadership, the party faces an immediate internal crisis before it has even fully launched its campaign machinery.
The episode also serves as a warning to the NDC leadership, including party leader Senator Seriake Dickson. The decision to appoint familiar political figures from other parties may have been intended to build a national structure quickly, but it has angered the very base that the party hopes to activate. As the 2027 elections draw closer, the NDC must find a way to balance the need for experienced administrators with the demand from the grassroots for ideological purity and trust. For now, the political survival of Pastor Dayo Ekong hangs in the balance as the Obidient movement continues to apply pressure online, fiercely guarding what they consider their newly captured political home.
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