Says no individual can impose governor on the state
By Daniel Abia
PORT HARCOURT — A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has urged the electorate in Rivers State to vote wisely in the 2027 governorship election, saying the state should not repeat what he described as the mistakes of the 2015 polls.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Eze called on Rivers residents to carefully assess candidates before casting their votes, arguing that the state’s future depended on the choices made at the ballot.
He alleged that many of the political and developmental challenges facing Rivers State today stemmed from decisions taken during the 2015 governorship election.
According to him, former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had, at the time, urged the electorate to support the then All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, whom he described as capable of sustaining the state’s development.
Eze said Rivers State had since experienced years of political division, insecurity and institutional setbacks.
Commenting on the 2027 governorship election, the ADC chieftain criticised comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding his influence over the choice of the state’s next governor.
“No individual, regardless of political influence, owns Rivers State. The era of political godfatherism must come to an end. Any attempt to impose a governor on Rivers people is undemocratic and should be rejected through lawful democratic means,” he said.
Eze also argued that since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, the governorship of Rivers State had remained within the upland axis through the administrations of Peter Odili, Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike.
He said the state should embrace a leadership arrangement that reflects equity, fairness and inclusiveness.
The ADC chieftain expressed confidence in the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, describing him as capable of providing purposeful leadership for the state.
According to him, Pidomson’s emergence is significant because he is from the Ogoni ethnic group, which, he noted, has not produced a governor, deputy governor, chief judge or speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He said supporting such a candidature would promote inclusion, strengthen unity and foster peaceful coexistence in the state.
“The people now know better. The 2027 election presents another opportunity to restore hope, rebuild institutions and return Rivers State to the path of progress,” Eze said.
