Rivers ADC moves to calm tension, denies Amaechi backed Pidomson for governor

The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has denied suggestions that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, unduly influenced the outcome of its governorship primaries to favour a particular aspirant.

This was as tension erupted in the party over the emergence of Gabriel Pidomson as its governorship candidate.

The Chukwudi Dimkpa–led Rivers State chapter of the party on May 24 declared Pidomson the winner of the governorship primaries held between May 22 and 23, 2026.

Farah Dagogo, a former member of the House of Representatives, disagreed, insisting he won the May 22 primaries conducted by the committee set up by the David Mark–led National Working Committee (NWC).

At the time of writing, some party members have threatened to seek redress over Pidomson’s emergence despite reported intra-party efforts led by Amaechi to address grievances arising from the governorship primaries.

As part of fence-mending efforts, Dimkpa, the ADC state chairman, on Wednesday dismissed claims by Allen Idaso Ezekiel‑Hart, one of the governorship aspirants, that the party’s May 24 governorship primaries were manipulated to favour certain persons.

Ezekiel‑Hart was quoted as saying he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution, while warning Dagogo, another aspirant, against invoking former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar’s name to bolster his claim of victory at the primary election.

“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat, but the party must recognize that I won the primaries,” he said.

Dimkpa, however, said the state chapter remained fully committed throughout the exercise to transparency, fairness, and strict compliance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

The ADC state chairman noted that all aspirants were duly informed of the procedures that led to the primary and that everyone was given an equal opportunity to participate.

He said, “The emergence of Dr. Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson as the party’s candidate was a reflection of the collective decision and overwhelming support of delegates and stakeholders across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.”

He further denied suggestions that the process was manipulated or influenced by any external interest, adding that Amaechi did not at any time interfere with or impose any aspirant on the party.

Dimkpa said the party sustained open communication with aspirants and their representatives throughout the exercise and urged the public to disregard statements capable of creating unnecessary tension or division within the party.

“The ADC remains united and focused. Our priority now is to consolidate the success of the primary process and continue working towards providing credible leadership and a better future for the people of Rivers State,” he said.