ADC leaders in Rivers back Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, warn against ‘fake’ party excos

The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has declared its support for the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while warning individuals allegedly posing as party executives in the area to desist.

The party leaders, who spoke during an engagement meeting in Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, insisted they remained the authentic leadership of the ADC in the council and would continue to align with the faction led nationally by Ibe Kachikwu pending the Supreme Court’s resolution of the party’s leadership dispute.

Speaking at the meeting, the Secretary of the ADC in Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Chuku, said that although the party was facing a national leadership crisis, members in the area had resolved to follow the leadership of Ibe Kachikwu and work with the Rainbow Coalition headed by Wike.

He said, “ADC is having a national leadership problem, but we are strictly depending on the leadership of Ibe Kachikwu and the coalition leader, Nyesom Wike”.

He alleged that some individuals were falsely presenting themselves as ADC executives in Ikwerre and Rivers State, describing them as intruders.

“We have come here to tell the public that we are aware that some persons are parading themselves as members of ADC and excos of ADC in Ikwerre Local Government. But we are here to tell the public that such persons are intruders. They have come to reap from where they did not sow,” he said.

According to him, the party’s leadership had directed members to align with the Rainbow Coalition, adding that they were prepared to work for the coalition’s success in 2027.

“The leadership of ADC has directed that we should align with the coalition headed by Wike and we are ready to work and partner with them to ensure the success of the 2027 election pending when the Supreme Court will decide who should be the authentic national leader of ADC in Nigeria,” Chuku stated.

Nigerian Entrepreneur Support

He further maintained that the recognised executives of the party existed from the state level down to the ward level and urged those not aligned with the Kachikwu-led faction to stop claiming leadership positions.

Also speaking, the Legal Adviser of the ADC in Ikwerre LGA, Promise Ezinwuo, said the meeting resolved that the party leadership in the area would join the Rainbow Coalition under Wike.

“In this engagement meeting held in Isiokpo, the capital of Ikwerre Local Government Area, we, the leadership of ADC, have agreed that we are joining the Rainbow Coalition, ably led by Wike,” Ezinwuo said.

He maintained that the ADC belonged to members who had built the party over the years and accused some individuals of attempting to hijack its structure.

He said, “We don’t have any other party apart from the ADC. It is our party; we suffered for this party and built it when it had no background and name. We are surprised at how some persons, who were not core members of the ADC before, started parading themselves as leaders of the ADC.”

“We will not build our house and allow scammers to come and destroy it. We are not going to allow anybody parading as a leader in Ikwerre Local Government to destroy this party.”

Ezinwuo reaffirmed that his group remained the authentic leadership of the ADC in Ikwerre and reiterated its support for Wike through the Rainbow Coalition.

“In our faction of the ADC in Ikwerre Local Government, we are supporting Nyesom Wike under the Rainbow Coalition. Anybody who is not part of this process is fake,” he said.

He also called on security agencies to remain vigilant and to prevent any action that could disrupt peace in the local government area.

“We call on the security agencies to be steadfast in discharging their duties because we won’t allow anybody to disrupt the peace we are enjoying in Ikwerre Local Government,” Ezinwuo added.