By Tolulope Oke

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing fresh concerns over its identity and internal coordination ahead of the 2027 general election after a public exchange on X over the party’s logo and leadership description.

Esther Umoh, an aide to Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and his official photographer, on Wednesday urged the party’s communications representative, Theo AbuAgada, to ensure that the NDC resolves the ongoing confusion surrounding its logo.

Umoh, in a post on X, said that with barely five months to the elections, candidates and supporters were uncertain about which logo to use on campaign materials, warning that the situation could affect the party’s visibility, cohesion and preparedness.

She called on the NDC leadership to issue an official communiqué to all state chapters and relevant stakeholders, clearly stating the party’s approved logo recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“You have repeatedly stated that the party’s supreme leader is an experienced politician. I therefore believe he fully understands the electoral and political implications of allowing this uncertainty to persist,” Umoh wrote.

Her reference to NDC leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, as the party’s “Supreme Leader” triggered a response from AbuAgada, who said the description was inappropriate and did not reflect Dickson’s democratic credentials.

Responding on X, AbuAgada said the logo issue had already been brought before the national leadership of the party and that efforts were underway to resolve it.

“Last week, I raised this issue with the National Leadership of the party and efforts are being made to address it,” he wrote.

However, he criticised Umoh’s description of Dickson as “Supreme Leader”, saying the phrase suggested an authoritarian system.

“As an employee of the presidential candidate of our great party, the NDC, I find it disrespectful and completely unacceptable to refer to our national leader, my boss as a ‘Supreme Leader’ — a nomenclature that denotes an authoritarian regime, which Distinguished Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is not known for,” AbuAgada said.

He added that Dickson was “a Democrat to the core” and urged Umoh to be guided in her choice of words.

The exchange has brought renewed attention to the NDC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 election, with the party yet to issue an official statement on the logo concerns raised by Umoh.