A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People's Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has urged the people of Rivers State not to repeat what he described as the "costly political mistake" of the 2015 governorship election, warning that the 2027 polls present an opportunity to restore the state to the path of development and democratic governance.
Eze, in a statement issued on July 27 and made available to journalists, said the political and developmental challenges confronting Rivers State were the consequences of the decision by voters to ignore the advice of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who had urged the electorate in 2015 to support the then All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
According to him, Amaechi had presented Peterside as a competent and visionary leader capable of sustaining the developmental achievements recorded during his administration between 2007 and 2015.
Eze argued that events over the past decade had vindicated Amaechi's position, alleging that Rivers State had experienced political instability, weakened institutions and stalled development since the 2015 transition.
He said Peterside's performance as Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) demonstrated the quality of leadership the state missed, adding that Rivers would have consolidated on previous development efforts had he been elected governor.
The ADC chieftain further accused successive administrations in the state of dismantling several policies and projects initiated under the Amaechi administration, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture, healthcare, youth empowerment and security.
He also criticised what he described as repeated claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he would determine who becomes the next governor of Rivers State.
"No individual, regardless of his political influence, owns Rivers State. The era of political godfatherism must come to an end. Any attempt by anyone to impose a governor on Rivers people is not only undemocratic but a direct assault on the sovereignty of the electorate," Eze was quoted as saying.
He called on Rivers voters to resist any attempt to impose a candidate on the state, insisting that the choice of governor should remain the exclusive right of the electorate.
On the issue of power rotation, Eze noted that since Nigeria's return to democratic rule in 1999, the governorship of Rivers State had remained within the upland axis under the administrations of Dr. Peter Odili, Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike.
He described continued concentration of political power within the same axis as inconsistent with the principles of equity, fairness and inclusion, stressing that Rivers State now has an opportunity to broaden political participation.
Eze expressed confidence in the governorship candidate of the ADC, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, describing him as experienced, intellectually sound and prepared to provide purposeful leadership for the state.
He also commended the party's deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Okumgba David Amapaka, saying the pair possessed the capacity to deliver transparent, inclusive and people-oriented governance if elected.
According to Eze, Pidomson's emergence as the ADC governorship candidate is historically significant because he hails from the Ogoni axis, which, he said, has never produced a governor, deputy governor, chief judge or speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He maintained that supporting such a candidacy would promote equity, strengthen unity and foster peaceful coexistence across the state.
The ADC stalwart appealed to Rivers people to use the 2027 governorship election to restore public confidence in governance and rebuild democratic institutions.
"The people now know better. They have experienced the consequences of placing personal ambition above the collective interest of the state. The 2027 election presents another opportunity to restore hope, rebuild institutions and return Rivers State to the path of progress," he said.
Eze concluded by urging voters to reject what he described as politics of imposition and embrace a democratic process that reflects the collective will and aspirations of the people of Rivers State.
