The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Gabriel Pidomson, has said the electorate will resist attempts by political groups to determine who governs the state in the 2027 election.
Pidomson made the remarks in Port Harcourt while speaking about his campaign plans and preparations for the election.
He also criticised the political alliance known as the “Rainbow Coalition”, associated with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, saying the group would not determine the choice of Rivers voters.
According to him, the 2027 election should be about the people’s decision on how the state is governed rather than a contest between powerful political figures.
Pidomson said no individual or political group could claim ownership of Rivers State, insisting that the state belonged to all its citizens.
He said the ADC was prepared to challenge the political influence of the Rainbow Coalition at the polls, expressing confidence that voters would reject what he described as attempts to maintain the existing political order.
The ADC candidate also claimed that many residents were dissatisfied with the continued influence of one political figure in the state and wanted a change in leadership.
He questioned the benefits Rivers residents had received from Mr Wike’s position as FCT minister, alleging that some federal appointments associated with the minister had mainly benefited his political allies.
Pidomson said his campaign had consulted various ethnic groups and stakeholders across the state and that the discussions showed a demand for more responsive governance.
He said his 10-point manifesto was designed around issues affecting residents and promised that his party would take steps to protect its votes during the election.
The candidate said the ADC would deploy party agents to polling units and collation centres across the state to monitor the electoral process.
He also urged voters to remain at their polling units after casting their ballots until results were announced, saying this would help prevent attempts to manipulate the outcome.
Mr Pidomson urged voters not to be intimidated by political groups, insisting that the ADC would defend votes cast for its candidates.
The ADC candidate also expressed concern over what he described as attacks on opposition politicians and restrictions on political activities in some parts of Rivers State.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to protect citizens and ensure that all political parties were allowed to operate freely.
Pidomson alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress had disrupted some ADC activities in the state and called for investigations into the incidents.
He urged the relevant authorities to identify those responsible and prosecute anyone found culpable.
Reacting to reports that some Ogoni community leaders were opposed to his governorship ambition, Mr Pidomson said such opposition would not determine the outcome of the election.
He described the affected leaders as a minority benefiting from the existing political arrangement and maintained that they did not represent the views of the entire population.
The ADC candidate said his political support cut across the various ethnic groups in Rivers State.
He added that his interest in becoming governor dated back to 2014, saying the years of preparation had equipped him intellectually, emotionally and physically for the demands of the office.
Pidomson also urged voters not to allow financial inducements from politicians to determine their choice at the polls.
He advised voters to accept any money offered during the election period but vote according to their conscience.
