|By Chinwendu Nwani
An aspirant in the governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart, has rejected the outcome of the exercise, describing it as a “shambolic charade” allegedly designed to impose a preferred candidate.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Ezekiel-Hart accused former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi of influencing the process, alleging that the disputed primary had produced three separate governorship claimants within the party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party,” he said, warning that the development could trigger a major internal crisis ahead of the 2027 elections.
The aspirant claimed that although the party timetable fixed the governorship primary for May 23, some contestants were allegedly informed late that the exercise had been brought forward.
According to him, another aspirant, Farah Dagogo, later informed him that a parallel process had already taken place without his knowledge.
Ezekiel-Hart further alleged that the state party chairman, Chief Chukwudi Dimkpa, invited only a select group of aspirants believed to be aligned with Amaechi, while excluding himself and Dagogo.
He described the exercise as a “kangaroo arrangement” allegedly intended to favour Gabriel P. Thompson, whom he claimed had emerged as Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
The aspirant also alleged that efforts were made to persuade other contenders to step down in support of Thompson under what he described as an unofficial consensus arrangement.
Ezekiel-Hart said Dagogo later approached him in a bid to resist what he termed “Amaechi’s camp,” but also allegedly requested public endorsement of his own victory claim.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state executive, and I also declared myself winner,” he said.
He called on the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the disputed process and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt what he described as a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ezekiel-Hart also accused Amaechi of attempting to impose candidates in Rivers politics, while insisting that all grievances would be pursued through the party’s constitutional channels.
There has been no immediate response from Amaechi, Dagogo, or the Rivers State ADC leadership regarding the allegations.
