A political storm is brewing in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State as Hon. Silas Duru, Councillor representing St. Eugene Ward 5, comes under intense scrutiny over a wave of disturbing allegations bordering on financial misconduct, abuse of office, and anti-party activities.
Multiple stakeholders within the ward have accused the embattled councillor of diverting public and party funds, painting a troubling picture of leadership marred by controversy and distrust.
At the center of the allegations is the claim that Hon. Duru withheld ₦250,000 during the commissioning of Abak Road, funds said to be tied to official engagements surrounding the project. In a separate incident, he is alleged to have pocketed ₦100,000 meant for a Local Government-sponsored ward football tournament, effectively denying youths in the community a vital platform for engagement and development.
The accusations do not end there, sources within the ward allege that Hon. Duru, in collaboration with the acting Ward Party Chairman, Mr. Mike Okoroafor, shared ₦130,000 contributed by ward executives for a planned courtesy visit to the Mayor of Aba North, an act many insiders have described as a blatant betrayal of collective trust.
Even more alarming are claims that the councillor and the ward chairman have allegedly turned the ward’s monthly allocations into a personal cash stream, reportedly splitting the ₦100,000 released by the LGA for ward meetings, thereby crippling party activities at the grassroots.
In what critics describe as a calculated act of deception, Hon. Duru is further accused of deducting ₦70,000 from a ₦500,000 fund earmarked for party membership PVC registration, under the pretext of facilitating electoral processes, an explanation many stakeholders have outrightly rejected.
Beyond financial allegations, the crisis takes a more dangerous political turn as Hon. Duru is alleged to have actively factionalized the Labour Party structure in Ward 5, creating deep divisions and weakening the party’s grassroots cohesion. However, the most explosive claim remains his alleged non-membership of the Labour Party.
Stakeholders insist that the councillor is in fact affiliated with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), raising serious constitutional and political concerns about his continued involvement in Labour Party affairs.
Political analysts warn that if these claims are proven, such actions could amount to gross anti-party activity, a violation of democratic norms and a direct affront to the principles of party supremacy recognized under Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
Adding fuel to the fire are allegations that Hon. Duru was imposed on the people of St. Eugene Ward 5, rather than emerging through a credible democratic process. Aggrieved stakeholders claim his candidacy was orchestrated through political influence, sidelining the will of the grassroots.
There are now mounting calls for the councillor to publicly present his Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to verify his true identity and ward affiliation, amid claims that he does not genuinely belong to St. Eugene Ward 5.
Perhaps most damning are accusations of total disconnect from the people he represents. Residents allege that since assuming office, Hon. Duru has failed to contribute meaningfully to ward development, neither supporting party activities nor extending assistance to indigent constituents.
For many in the ward, the issue is no longer just about allegations, it is about what they describe as a complete collapse of representation and accountability.
As tensions rise, party faithful and concerned stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention by:
The Labour Party leadership, to launch a full-scale investigation
Anti-corruption agencies, to probe the alleged financial misconduct
Relevant authorities, to determine the legality of his position and party affiliation
With the credibility of grassroots governance in Aba North now at stake, observers say how this crisis is handled could send a strong signal about accountability, party discipline, and the rule of law in local politics.
For now, Hon. Silas Duru remains at the center of a deepening controversy, one that may ultimately define his political future.
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