Controversy has erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State over a parallel declaration of Dr. Farah Dagogo as the party’s governorship candidate, following a disputed primary election held on Friday. The announcement, made in a video circulating on social media, claims Dagogo won the party’s direct primaries with 64,700 votes, defeating Dr. Sokonte Davies, who reportedly polled 9,050 votes. The declaration was made by Dr. Agu Bryan, identified as the Chairman of the ADC Rivers State Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, alongside other committee members and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the official ADC leadership has rejected the declaration as unauthorized and premature.
Seven aspirants had initially expressed interest in contesting for the governorship ticket, with six attending a key meeting on Friday where party leaders discussed the possibility of a consensus arrangement to avoid a full primary. Allen Heart, one of the aspirants, was notably absent from the meeting. Sources indicate that only two candidates agreed to step down in favour of Gabriel Pidomson, while the others insisted on proceeding with the primaries to determine their popularity through a direct vote. This divergence in approach led to the conflicting outcomes and subsequent confusion.
The video announcing Dagogo’s victory claims the primaries were conducted across 319 wards in the state’s 23 local government areas. Dr. Bryan stated in the video that the exercise adhered to the party’s guidelines and that Dagogo met all required conditions to emerge as the winner. Despite the presence of INEC representatives at the collation centre, the ADC’s official position remains firm: no official declaration has been made by the party’s recognized electoral body. The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Chizy Enyi, issued a statement on Friday night dismissing the reports as false and urging members, aspirants, and the public to ignore any unofficial announcements.
The State Chairman of the ADC, Dr. Chukwudi Dimkpa, confirmed to DAILY POST that the collation of results is still ongoing and that no candidate has been officially declared. He emphasized that the primary process is being conducted transparently, freely, and fairly, in line with the party’s established guidelines. The ADC has called for calm and patience, assuring stakeholders that the outcome will be announced only after the proper procedures are completed.
This development has heightened tensions within the party, raising concerns about internal divisions and the credibility of the primary process. As the political landscape in Rivers State continues to evolve ahead of the 2025 general elections, the ADC’s ability to present a united front will be closely watched. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the party can resolve this crisis and move forward with a clear, legitimate candidate.
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