Drama as Anambra PDP Suspends Guber Candidate Ezenwafor for Sabotaging Own Election; Candidate Dismisses Action

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has suspended its governorship candidate in the November 8, 2025 election, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, over alleged sabotage and anti-party activities. However, Ezenwafor has dismissed the suspension, insisting that the Chidi Chidebe-led State Executive Committee (SEC) lacks the authority to sanction him.
The party announced the one-month suspension on Tuesday at the end of its State Executive Committee meeting held at its state secretariat in Awka. According to the communiqué issued after the meeting, the decision took immediate effect and was accompanied by a referral of Ezenwafor to the State Party Disciplinary Committee for further investigation and recommendations.
State PDP Chairman, Chidi Chidebe, who briefed journalists after the meeting, accused Ezenwafor of conduct “grossly unbecoming of a candidate of our great party.” He alleged that Ezenwafor was uncooperative and even “outrightly destructive” throughout the campaign period, failing to campaign in any ward, local government, or across the state.

Chidebe further claimed that the governorship candidate connived with candidates of other political parties to undermine the PDP’s chances in the election. He said Ezenwafor also concocted stories of assassination attempts and extortion against genuine party members, including his own running mate, and went as far as creating “a parallel gang of impostors” to interfere unlawfully in party activities.

“In light of these actions,” Chidebe said, “the SEC resolved that Mr. Jude Ezenwafor is hereby suspended from the PDP for a period of one month with immediate effect. The National Working Committee is also notified and advised not to grant him or his collaborators any further access or recognition as their activities are aimed at destabilising the party.”

Commenting on the party’s electoral performance, the PDP chairman noted that despite the internal challenges, the party still managed to garner 1,401 votes statewide, placing sixth among 16 participating parties. He described Ezenwafor’s personal showing as “abysmal,” saying the candidate secured only one vote in his own ward, Nnobi Ward 3 in Idemili South Local Government Area — the lowest result recorded for the PDP in any ward.

Chidebe attributed the party’s modest showing to last-minute mobilisation by local executives, who were directed to vote for the PDP despite the candidate’s alleged withdrawal from campaign activities. He reaffirmed the state chapter’s commitment to party discipline, unity, and internal democracy under the leadership of Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.

But in a swift reaction, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor dismissed his suspension as invalid, declaring that the Chidi Chidebe-led executive committee lacks legitimacy.

“I do not recognise Chidebe and his group as the leadership of the PDP in Anambra. I am the leader of the PDP in Anambra, and they do not have the powers to suspend me,” he said. “The PDP has an Administrative Secretary appointed by the National Executive Committee, not a factional group issuing illegal suspensions.”

Ezenwafor, who admitted the party’s poor performance in the election, said he had withdrawn from the race hours before the poll due to lack of funds and support. He described his decision to contest in the first place as an effort to “save the party from total collapse” after others reportedly declined the nomination.
“I withdrew from the race because I lacked the capacity to continue. I actually tried to save the party, but nobody was willing to take over the baton. The allegations of sabotage are baseless and amount to blackmail,” he said.
The Anambra PDP says it will not challenge the outcome of the election in court.