No individual will determine next Rivers gov, says ADC

The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has said no individual has the power to determine who becomes the next governor of the state.

The party said the choice of governor rests solely with the electorate, not any political actor, ahead of the next governorship election.

The position comes amid renewed political debate over succession in the state, following comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a recent political engagement in which he said he would not repeat what he described as his “mistake of 2023,” stressing the need for a governor who is “completely loyal.”

Wike had also, in separate remarks during a thank-you tour of local government areas earlier in the year, suggested support for a candidate aligned with his political structure. However, he later clarified in Abuja that he had not endorsed any aspirant, saying Rivers elders would play a role in the decision-making process.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Chairman of the ADC, Chukwudi Dimkpa, said governorship emergence in the state would be decided through democratic processes.

“The choice of a governor ultimately rests with the electorate. It is a process determined through democratic participation and not the decision of a single individual,” Dimkpa said.

He said the ADC was positioning itself as a credible alternative built on transparency, internal democracy and broad-based participation, adding that the party would deepen political engagement across communities in the state.

“The party is committed to building an inclusive political movement that reflects the interests of Rivers residents,” he said.

On zoning, Dimkpa acknowledged its importance in maintaining political balance between riverine and upland communities, but insisted that competence and capacity must remain central to leadership selection.

He said the party would adopt a consultative process in picking its governorship candidate to ensure fairness and inclusivity.

“Our goal is to present a candidate with the capacity to govern effectively and secure wide acceptance across the state,” he added.

Dimkpa further noted that the ADC would take decisions in due course that would strengthen unity within the party and deepen democratic practice in Rivers State.

He said issues such as insecurity, governance and economic development remained key concerns for residents, stressing that leadership selection must be guided by solutions to these challenges ahead of the 2027 elections.

The ADC maintained that Rivers voters remain the ultimate decision-makers in any electoral contest, urging political actors to respect democratic principles and allow the will of the people to prevail.