The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed claims of internal legal disputes or membership irregularities, insisting that its former National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, voluntarily resigned from the party late 2025.
The party clarified that there is no subsisting legal controversy surrounding its leadership structure, attributing any perceived discrepancy to the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update its official records.
“Our National Legal Adviser resigned from the APM since last year,” the party stated in a post on its X page on Sunday.
“There is no discrepancy of membership or legal issues. INEC just forgot to update APM’s details on their website.”
According to a resignation letter dated December 4, 2025, and acknowledged by the party on December 5, Egwuaba formally stepped down from his position as National Legal Adviser, with effect from December 10, 2025.
In the letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Egwuaba said his decision followed “careful and considered reflection,” citing professional obligations and shifting priorities.
“Having joined the party in 2019, it has been a distinct honour to serve in this capacity and to contribute to the growth and strengthening of the party’s legal and institutional framework. This decision has been reached after careful and considered reflection, guided by my professional obligations and present priorities,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) for the confidence reposed in him during his tenure, as well as the support received from the National Secretary.
“I wish to place on record my deep appreciation to the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the trust and confidence reposed in me throughout my tenure. I am equally grateful to the National Secretary for the consistent cooperation and administrative support extended to my office.
“Despite his resignation, Egwuaba maintained that he remains favourably disposed to the party and open to offering legal services when required.
“While I step aside from this role, I remain well-disposed to the party and its ideals, and I am open to rendering professional legal services to the party whenever the need arises,” he added.
A civil society organisation, Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA), earlier raised concerns over an alleged breach of the revised Electoral Act, which prohibits dual membership of political parties by any individual.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said it had observed what it described as “disturbing inconsistencies” in official party records.
It noted that Egwuaba was listed on the website of the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) as National Legal Adviser to both the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the NDC, with one of the entries reportedly indicated as “by court order.”
The statement, signed by the group’s General Secretary, Julius Aondowase, described it as a serious legal contradiction with far-reaching implications.
“By virtue of the amended electoral provisions, particularly the modification of Section 77, belonging to more than one political party at the same time is expressly prohibited. The law is clear and uncompromising: any individual found guilty of dual-party membership is liable to a fine of up to ₦10 million and/or a prison term of up to two years,” the group said.
“The position of National Legal Adviser is not symbolic; it is a core office within a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which requires full and exclusive membership of that party.”
“Therefore, occupying this role in both the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically improper, it constitutes prima facie evidence of dual membership and a potential criminal offence under Nigerian law,” it added.
According to group, the “situation demands urgent clarification from all parties involved.”
It continued, “If these records are accurate, then this is a clear violation of the law. If they are not, then the public deserves an immediate correction and explanation as to how such conflicting information came to be officially documented”
The call for probe comes amid the defection of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC to NDC.