Rivers ADC Crisis Deepens as Ezekiel-Hart Rejects Primary

The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.

Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship “winners” within the same party. He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene. They're likely to face significant challenges if they don't resolve this issue.

According to Ezekiel-Hart, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved. He said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant Farah Dagogo informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted. Ezekiel-Hart didn't have time to react, as he'd just found out about the change.

Ezekiel-Hart accused the state party chairman, Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Amaechi while excluding himself and Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Gabriel P. Thompson, whom he described as Amaechi’s preferred candidate. It's clear that Ezekiel-Hart won't accept this outcome without a fight.

“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku won't be part of this nonsense,” Ezekiel-Hart said. He's determined to distance himself from what he sees as a flawed process.

The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Dagogo made a similar announcement. “As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This can't stand,” he said. The situation is complex, and it's not clear how it'll be resolved.

Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest. He also faulted Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level. Ezekiel-Hart won't back down, and he's pushing for a fair process.

The crisis in Rivers State ADC has significant implications for the party’s chances in the 2027 elections. With three separate winners emerging from the primary, the party’s national leadership will need to intervene to resolve the crisis. They must ensure a unified front ahead of the elections. It's crucial that they act quickly, as time is running out.

Ezekiel-Hart urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said. The committee must take decisive action to prevent further divisions.

• The Rivers ADC primary produced three separate winners.
• Ezekiel-Hart accused Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
• The state party chairman, Chukwudi Dimkpa, was accused of excluding some aspirants.
• The crisis could plunge the party into turmoil ahead of the 2027 elections.

The situation in Rivers State ADC is a testament to the challenges faced by opposition parties in Nigeria. With the 2027 elections approaching, the party will need to resolve its internal crisis and present a united front to stand a chance against the ruling party. They can't afford to be divided, or they won't succeed.

Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim. “We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I won't rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said. He's committed to following the party's rules and procedures.

The ADC National Working Committee will need to act quickly to resolve the crisis and prevent further divisions within the party. The committee must ensure that the party’s primary is conducted in a fair and transparent manner to avoid allegations of imposition. They must also ensure that the party presents a strong candidate for the 2027 elections. It's a tough task, but it's essential for the party's success.

As the crisis in Rivers State ADC continues to unfold, the party's national leadership will respond to the allegations of imposition and the emergence of three separate winners from the primary. The party will need to resolve its internal crisis if it hopes to make a significant impact in the 2027 elections. They won't be able to move forward until they've addressed these issues.