POLITICS: NDC CRISIS DEEPENS IN TARABA AS EXCO MOVES AGAINST TUIDA, CHAIRMAN REJECTS ALLEGATIONS

POLITICS: NDC CRISIS DEEPENS IN TARABA AS EXCO MOVES AGAINST TUIDA, CHAIRMAN REJECTS ALLEGATIONS

• Over two-thirds of SEC members reportedly back vote of no confidence
• Richard Dauda Achiarege emerges as interim chairman
• Tuida insists he remains duly elected State Chairman
• Chairman’s camp accuses governorship candidate Prof. Sani Yahaya of being behind leadership crisis
• September 10, 2026

A major leadership crisis has erupted within the Taraba State Chapter of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, following a move by a faction of the State Executive Committee, SEC, to pass a vote of no confidence on the elected State Chairman, Ambassador Charles Tuida.

The development has effectively split the state leadership of the party into two camps, with one faction announcing an interim chairman while the other insists that Tuida remains the legitimate and duly elected State Chairman.

The aggrieved SEC members, in a statement issued on Thursday, September 10, 2026, said their decision followed emergency meetings of the State Executive Committee held on September 9 and 10, during which members reviewed what they described as the deteriorating state of affairs within the party.

According to the group, more than two-thirds of members of the State Executive Committee endorsed the vote of no confidence against Tuida.

The SEC members levelled several allegations against the chairman, including gross misconduct, financial mismanagement, anti-party activities, high-handedness and alleged disregard for the constitutional organs of the party.

ALLEGATIONS OF FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT

On the management of party finances, the aggrieved executive members alleged that Tuida had been running the financial affairs of the NDC in Taraba State without adequate consultation with, or approval of, the State Executive Committee.

They argued that major financial decisions affecting the party ought to be subjected to the appropriate party organs rather than being handled solely by the chairman.

The allegations have, however, been rejected by Tuida and his supporters, who described the entire process against him as politically motivated.

PARTY STRUCTURES ALSO QUESTIONED

The faction seeking Tuida’s removal further accused him of failing to establish functional party structures across the local government areas and wards of Taraba State in accordance with the requirements of the party.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the SEC members expressed concern that weak structures at the grassroots could affect the ability of the NDC to effectively mobilise voters and compete in the elections.

They argued that a political party seeking to make a significant impact in the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections must have functional structures extending from the state level to local governments and wards.

ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES ALLEGED

Perhaps one of the most serious allegations raised against the chairman is the claim that he had been involved in clandestine dealings with political figures outside the NDC.

The aggrieved executive members alleged that such activities, if allowed to continue, could undermine the chances of the party and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.

No independent evidence establishing the alleged dealings was presented in the statement, and Tuida has rejected the allegations against him.

The faction also accused the chairman of taking major decisions without consulting statutory organs of the party, allegedly encouraging parallel factions and threatening executive members who challenged his leadership.

EXCO INVOKES PARTY CONSTITUTION

The aggrieved SEC members cited Articles 14 and 18 of the NDC Constitution in support of their action and called on the national leadership of the party to intervene urgently.

They warned that failure to resolve the leadership crisis could have serious consequences for the NDC’s preparations and electoral fortunes in Taraba State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Following the vote of no confidence, the faction announced Comrade Richard Dauda Achiarege as interim State Chairman, saying he received the backing of more than two-thirds of members of the State Executive Committee.

The group said the interim arrangement was necessary to prevent what it described as a leadership vacuum and restore stability within the state chapter pending further action by the appropriate organs of the party.

TUIDA FIGHTS BACK

But Ambassador Charles Tuida has rejected the entire process and maintained that he remains the duly elected State Chairman of the NDC in Taraba State.

In a notice issued to the general public, Tuida’s camp described the allegations against him as false and accused some members of the State Executive Committee of being used to remove him from office.

The statement said:

«“We strongly reject the allegations engineered by the Taraba State NDC Gubernatorial Candidate to remove the elected State Chairman.”»

It further described the allegations as “capital lies from the pit of hell,” claiming they were sponsored by what it called “a few enticed EXCOs for reasons best known to them.”

The statement maintained that Tuida remains the duly elected chairman and called on party members and the general public to disregard the allegations against him.

GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE DRAGGED INTO CRISIS

The chairman’s response has introduced another dimension to the dispute, with his faction directly accusing the NDC governorship candidate in Taraba State, Professor Sani Yahaya, of being behind the attempt to remove him.

Tuida’s supporters allege that the governorship candidate is working with some members of the State Executive Committee to change the leadership of the party.

The allegation against Professor Yahaya has not been independently established, and his response to the accusation was not immediately available.

The accusation nevertheless raises questions about the relationship between the party’s governorship campaign structure and sections of the state executive as preparations intensify for the 2027 election.

TWO FACTIONS, TWO LEADERSHIP CLAIMS

The unfolding dispute has now left the Taraba State NDC with competing leadership claims.

While the faction that passed the vote of no confidence recognises Comrade Richard Dauda Achiarege as interim State Chairman, the opposing camp maintains that Ambassador Charles Tuida remains the duly elected chairman and cannot be removed through what it considers an unconstitutional process.

Attention is therefore expected to shift to the national leadership and relevant constitutional organs of the NDC to determine whether the reported vote of no confidence complied with the party’s constitution and whether the State Executive Committee possesses the authority to declare the chairmanship vacant and install an interim leadership under the circumstances.

The crisis comes at a crucial period for the relatively new political party as it seeks to position itself as a serious contender in Taraba State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A prolonged leadership battle could affect grassroots mobilisation, candidate coordination and the party’s ability to present a united front to voters.

For now, however, neither faction appears prepared to back down: Achiarege’s camp is relying on the reported support of more than two-thirds of the State Executive Committee, while Tuida’s camp is relying on his mandate as the elected State Chairman and challenging the legitimacy of the process seeking to remove him.

The intervention of the NDC national leadership may ultimately determine which of the two competing leadership claims prevails.