Rivers ADC Guber Primary: Aspirant Accuses Amaechi of Imposition, Claims Three Winners Emerged

Dr. Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart, an aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the Rivers State governorship primary election, has rejected the exercise.

The primary election was a shambolic charade, orchestrated by former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to impose a preferred candidate, Ezekiel-Hart said.

The aspirant, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, alleged that the primary produced three different governorship candidates for the ADC in Rivers State, warning that the development could throw the party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership does not intervene.

“Presently, we have three governorship candidates in one party, and this is because of Amaechi’s high-handedness,” Ezekiel-Hart alleged.

He also alleged that while the party’s official timetable had fixed the governorship primary for May 23, aspirants were suddenly told Friday night that the exercise had been brought forward.

“While I was mobilising supporters in the 23 local government areas ahead of the scheduled poll, a fellow aspirant, Farah Dagogo, told me that a parallel exercise had earlier been conducted without my knowledge today (Thursday).

Ezekiel-Hart said only five aspirants believed to be loyal to Amaechi were invited by the state party chairman, the Chief Chukwudi Dimkpa, apart from himself and Dagogo.

He called the process a “kangaroo arrangement” allegedly designed to pave way for Gabriel P. Thompson who he said has been long installed as Amaechi’s preferred candidate.

He alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to withdraw for Thompson in a consensus arrangement camouflaged as a consensus arrangement despite the party’s public claim that there would be no consensus candidate.

He also disclosed that Dagogo had later come to him with the suggestion that they should team up to fight what he described as “Amaechi’s camp”. However, he said, Dagogo also allegedly asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.

He told me to go on air and congratulate him that we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name Atiku will not be in this nonsense,” said Ezekiel-Hart.

He alleged that Dagogo had even offered him political bribe, including possible appointment as Secretary to the State Government, if he endorsed his self-declared victory.

Ezekiel-Hart said he rejected the offer and later declared himself winner after Dagogo had earlier publicly declared himself winner.

‘As it is, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, I also declared myself winner. Three winners in a primary that never happened. “That cannot be,” he said.

Ezekiel-Hart alleged that the Rivers ADC leadership had been systematically sidelining him, saying he was the only aspirant that notified the party in writing of his intention to contest and with documented acknowledgement from the party secretariat.

The former governor also accused Amaechi of trying to replicate what he termed a long-standing culture of political imposition.

“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries in the country turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?” he asked.

Ezekiel-Hart further alleged that the former minister had not explained his political role in the 2015 presidential transition that ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“He owes the South-South apology for what he did to Jonathan and mortgaging the political future of this region.”

Ezekiel-Hart urged the ADC National Working Committee to immediately cancel the controversial exercise and conduct a fresh primary or adopt a consensus arrangement in line with the electoral timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The most pragmatic approach at this point is for the NWC to call for a rescheduled primary or to push through a lawful consensus option. He suggested, “Time is running out.

Similarly, Ezekiel-Hart cautioned Dagogo against the continuous mention of Atiku’s name to strengthen his case.

He should stop dragging Atiku’s name in the mud in Rivers. “Let me tell you, Atiku is our father, nobody should be saying that he is imposing a candidate here.”

“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party,” he said. “We will pursue all grievances strictly within the framework of the party constitution. “I am not going to rock the boat unnecessarily but the party has to recognise that I won the primaries.”410