The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Abdulmumin Abdulsalami, has resigned from the party, citing alleged injustice, exclusion and interference by influential members of its leadership.
Abdulsalami announced his resignation in a letter disclosing that his decision followed repeated disagreements over his contributions to the party, adding that he would rather protect his peace of mind than remain in an organisation where he felt sidelined.
In the letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, on Thursday, he said the interests of some powerful party officials conflicted with his efforts to contribute to the party’s growth.
“As a foundation member of the NDC, ditto a critical formative leader in the party, I am compelled to voluntarily take the exit having realised that my sincere and positive contributions to the meteoric rise and success of the party are at odds with the vested interests of a few powerful officers who call the shots,” he stated.
Cleopas also recalled his previous roles as the party’s Protem Chairman in Kogi State, Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Director for Labour and Civil Society.
Abdulsalami thanked the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, for the opportunities he had received, while acknowledging the support of colleagues, civil society activists and media practitioners during the party’s formative period.
He said he was returning to private life rather than remain in a party where he felt excluded.
“I am calling it quits and heading back home to avoid orchestrated melodrama of exclusion from party affairs. I love you all, but I love myself and my mental sanity most,” he said.
He, however, declined to name the party officials he accused of frustrating his contributions.
Abdulsalami’s departure followed a strained relationship with the leadership, alleging that he had not received a salary or working budget despite his contributions.
The source also claimed that he had been gradually sidelined from the National Working Committee and had considered leaving since October, but was persuaded to stay by Dickson.
However, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, dismissed suggestions of internal wrangling, saying the resignation of one member was not enough to indicate a crisis within the party.
“There is no internal wrangling in the party. The exit of one person is not enough to conclude, especially as we also witness influx of a lot of people into the party every day,” he said.
Abdulsalami’s resignation comes amid disagreements over the control and organisation of the NDC following the entry of Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, into the party on May 3, 2026.
The party had maintained that it possessed structures across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory before the two politicians joined, although its leadership acknowledged that their arrival added value to the organisation.
Tensions later emerged between the party and the Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, popularly known as the OK Movement, after the group rejected calls for its structures to be absorbed into the NDC.
The movement’s Director-General, John Ughulu, insisted that it would retain its national, state, local government and ward structures, while Dickson argued that political movements should complement parties rather than operate parallel structures.
The disagreements have coincided with other changes within Obi’s political camp, including the appointment of former Obidient Movement National Coordinator Yunusa Tanko as the National Coordinator of the Social Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council.
Tanko’s appointment came less than two weeks after he resigned as Obi’s political adviser, while another Obi loyalist, Nana Kazaure, had earlier joined the campaign team of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The developments come as the NDC seeks to strengthen its structures and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.