A former Senior Special Assistant on Empowerment and Job Creation to the member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has publicly announced the termination of his appointment, alleging that the decision was politically motivated and linked to longstanding disagreements with the lawmaker.
The former aide, popularly known as Kingsley Nna Okadigbo disclosed that he received notice of his dismissal through unofficial channel of communication (WhatsApp message) on June 15, 2026, from an official in Nkwonta’s office. According to him, the termination letter did not state any reason for the decision.
However, he claimed that the dismissal was connected to a prolonged rift between himself and the federal lawmaker, which allegedly began after Nkwonta defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in October 2024.
According to the former aide, he openly informed the lawmaker that he would not follow him to the APC, a position he said contributed to the deterioration of their working relationship.
Okadigbo further alleged that tensions escalated in October 2025 after he received a correspondence on behalf of Nkwonta from a civil society group seeking explanations regarding the lawmaker’s constituency projects and performance in office.
The former aide claimed that Nkwonta reacted negatively to the request, arguing that elected officials should be prepared to answer questions concerning transparency, accountability, and the execution of public projects.
He also accused the lawmaker of relying on misinformation from associates, which he said eventually led to a breakdown in communication between them.
In his statement, Okadigbo revealed that he stopped reporting to the National Assembly office months ago, citing concerns about his personal safety and mental wellbeing amid the worsening relationship.
Nna further disclosed details of his remuneration while serving in the role, claiming he earned a monthly salary of ₦120,000, later supplemented with a ₦50,000 fuel allowance following complaints about the adequacy of his pay, alleging that the allowance was not always paid regularly.
Okadigbo also claimed that occupants of an official residence in Abuja, including political appointees and staff members, personally covered utility and service charges, including electricity, security, waste management, and gardening expenses.
Maintaining that his dismissal was the result of political disagreements and his support for public accountability. “I deliberately chose not to resign while I anticipated my eventual removal from office” Okadigbo said.
He declared that the development marks the beginning of what he described as a political struggle for the future of Ukwa Federal Constituency and vowed to continue demanding accountability from public office holders.
Following the controversy, one would expect it to generate further debate within the political landscape of Ukwa East and West Federal Constituency as stakeholders, constituents and Nkwontas’ supporters to reacts to the former aide’s assertions and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal.
