Fresh controversy has erupted within the Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the party’s disputed governorship primary, as one of the aspirants, Dr. Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart, rejected the process and accused former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of attempting to impose a preferred candidate.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade,” claiming the crisis had produced “three governorship candidates” within the same party.

“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he alleged.

The aggrieved aspirant said the party’s official timetable fixed the governorship primary for May 23, but aspirants were allegedly informed late Friday that the exercise had been rescheduled and conducted earlier than expected.

According to him, while he was mobilising supporters across the state’s 23 local government areas ahead of the planned primary, fellow aspirant Dr. Farah Dagogo allegedly informed him that a separate process had already taken place without his knowledge.

Ezekiel-Hart further alleged that the Rivers ADC chairman, Chief Chukwudi Dimkpa, invited only five aspirants believed to be loyal to Amaechi, excluding both himself and Dagogo from the process.

He described the exercise as a “kangaroo arrangement” allegedly designed to favour Gabriel P. Thompson, whom he claimed had long been positioned as Amaechi’s preferred candidate.

According to him, three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Thompson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s earlier insistence that no consensus candidate would emerge.

The aspirant also claimed that Dagogo later approached him with a proposal for both men to resist what he termed “Amaechi’s camp,” while allegedly asking him to publicly endorse Dagogo’s self-declared victory.

“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 will not be part of this nonsense,” Ezekiel-Hart alleged.

He further claimed that Dagogo offered him possible political compensation, including the position of Secretary to the State Government, if he endorsed his declaration.

Rejecting the proposal, Ezekiel-Hart said he subsequently announced himself the winner after Dagogo publicly declared victory.

“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 was never held. This cannot stand,” he stated.

Ezekiel-Hart also accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being, according to him, the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest, with acknowledged documentation from the party secretariat.

He further accused Amaechi of attempting to perpetuate a culture of political imposition in the state.

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

The aspirant also criticised Amaechi over his role in the 2015 political transition that led to the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

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

Ezekiel-Hart called on the ADC National Working Committee to immediately nullify the disputed exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“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.

He also cautioned Dagogo against repeatedly invoking Atiku’s name to support his claim to the ticket.

“He should stop tarnishing Atiku’s reputation in Rivers. Atiku is father to all of us; nobody should claim he is imposing any candidate here,” he added.

Despite his grievances, Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue the matter strictly within the framework of the party constitution.

“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he stressed.

(LEADERSHIP)