A serious rancour  has erupted in Rivers State Chapter of Advance Democratic Congress  (ADC) following governorship primary that took place on May 22, 2026.

The crisis deepened when one of the aspirants, Allen Ezekiel-Hart who lost in the primary alleged that the exercise was manipulated to favour  preferred  interests within the opposition bloc in the party.

The primary produced Dr Gabriel Pidomson, a former Secretary to the Government of Rivers State under the short-lived government of Celestine Omehia, who defeated Ezekiel- Hart, Sokonte Davies, a former House of Representatives member and Farah Dagogo, also a former House of Representatives member.

Ezekiel-Hart and Dagogo are laying claims to the party’s ticket through a rival factional process.

But in statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday,  the State Chairman of ADC,  Dr  Chukwudi Dimkpa dismissed the allegations of imposition and electoral manipulation, saying that primary complied fully with the party’s c constitution and guidelines.

Dimkpa also explained that all the aspirants were properly informed about the procedures leading to the primary and were given equal opportunity to participate in the exercise.

The emergence of  Pidomsom as the ADC governorship candidate in the state, he said ” was a reflection of the collective decision and overwhelming support of delegates and stakeholders across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State. “

Dimkpa also rejected suggestions that the former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi  or any outside political interests influenced the outcome of the primary

Dimkpa’s intervention came after Ezekiel-Hart continued to challenge the legitimacy of the process. He also warned Dagogo  against invoking the name of the former Vice President,  Atiku Abubakar in the internal battle  over the party’s structure and ticket.

Ezekiel-Hart stated that “we will exhaust every legal channel within the party” adding that he would not ” rock the boat unnecessarily but the party must recognize that I won the primaries. “

However, the Rivers ADC Chairman urged party members and the public to ignore statements capable of inflating  tensions within the party pointing out that the ADC in Rivers State remained focused on presenting itself as a credible alternative in the State.

In his words, : The ADC remains united and focused.  Our priority now is to consolidate on the success of the primary process and continue working towards providing credible leadership and a better future for people of Rivers State.”

The clarification appeared to be aimed at calming growing uncertainty within the party after conflicting declarations by Pidomson and Dagogo triggered confusion  over who truly holds the ADC governorship ticket in Rivers State.