The Rivers State Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gabriel Pidomson, has asserted that the party is focused on its campaign and will deliver its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Rivers State in the 2027 election.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Pidemson dismissed the strength of the pro-Tinubu Rainbow Coalition in the state, describing it as a distraction while insisting that the ADC is mobilising across Rivers and preparing to protect its votes.
“We are not focused on the so-called Rainbow Confusion, because that’s a confusion. I don’t see it as any coalition. The so-called Rainbow Coalition is one structure, one party.”
He said the ADC remained united despite claims that some of its members were aligning with the coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. “That the ADC is focused on the election, and the only major person that left the ADC, and I’m not sure whether he joined the APC, is Dr. Sokonte Huttin And no defections thus far is affecting the structure of the ADC.”
Pidomson said the party was more concerned with attracting new members and preparing for the 2027 election than responding to political alignments involving other parties. “The ADC is focused on the election. We are mobilising for our party. We are not focused on the so-called Rainbow Confusion, because that’s a confusion.”
He also challenged the coalition’s claims about its ability to deliver Rivers State for President Tinubu, saying the ADC would work to deliver Atiku Abubakar in the state. “We are going to deliver Atiku Abubakar in River State. So next time he comes on air, tell him that Sir Dr. Honourable Gabriel Pidemseman, the governorship candidate of the ADC, speaking on behalf of the great ADC party, says that we are going to deliver Atiku Abubakar in River State.”
Pidomson said he had begun rebuilding political structures previously associated with the Wike Solidarity Movement, which he said he founded, to support the ADC’s campaign. “And those things I used to do for him when I set up the Wiki Solidarity Movement. I have started it. And we are going to use those structures to crumble any fading rainbow coalition.”
He accused political opponents of planning to rig the election and said the ADC was preparing to mobilise voters, protect its votes and counter what he described as attempts to create fear among voters. “Don’t plan to rig this election because you lose your tactical edge when your opponent knows what you are trying to do. We know you want to rig the election.”
He said the party was preparing around three areas mobilisation, protection of votes and countering fear while keeping some of its strategies private. “Now, the dimensions they have put in place for this election, and which will be what we are looking at, is mobilisation, protection of our votes, and fear. They have already started the dimension of fear.”
“In terms of rigging, we too are also making our own calculations and putting in place our structures and systems to ensure that they do not rig the election. Then the third dimension is mobilisation.”
Pidomson also described the 2027 election as a contest in which ballots would be used to drive political change, clarifying that his reference to “war” was metaphorical and not a call for violence. “When I say that this election is not just election, it’s war. That war, the bullets of that war is our ballots.”
After being challenged over the use of the word “war”, he stressed that he was calling on voters to cast their ballots rather than engage in violence. “I made it very clear. I said this election is war and that the bullet in this election is our ballots. I did not say it’s a gun.”
Pidomson said voters should ensure their ballots were counted and transmitted at polling units, arguing that voter turnout would be central to determining the outcome. “Our bullets are our ballots. Cast them. We are mobilising people to come and cast their ballots. And stand that and ensure that your ballot is counted and transmitted at the unit.”
Beyond the presidential contest, Pidomson said Rivers State needed a major shift in governance, arguing that the state had lost ground over the past 12 years. “In the past 12 years, there has been a gap in River State.”
He attributed the gap to what he described as weak governance, insecurity, lack of investment and declining economic opportunities, saying the state needed high-impact projects with measurable outcomes. “Now, there’s a gap in governance that needs to be filled so that you can bring money from government to the people. How do you get money from government to the people? It’s the high-impact projects and programmes that will impact the lives of the people.”
Pidomson said his first priority as governor would be security, arguing that investors would not return to Rivers without a secure environment. “And as governor of River State, I’m going to undertake operation, keep River State safe and secure.”
He said the proposed security framework would combine intelligence and technology across land, air, communities and other areas. “It’s going to be a secure platform that will capture intelligence and other dimensions of security, so that you have a new unified framework of fighting security, both in the crits, on land, in the air, and how people relate in their communities.”
Pidomson also called for economic diversification beyond oil, federal allocations and internally generated revenue, pointing to the state’s blue economy and tourism potential. “Then we also need to diversify. We cannot only depend on oil in River State, federal allocation and internal generated revenue.”
He said Rivers had significant opportunities in its coastal economy and tourism sector that had not been fully developed. “The entire blue economy has not even been explored. That is a dollar mining dimension of the economy that we have not explored. Those are the things we are coming to do.”
He also said the state needed to revive tourism and create more employment opportunities for young people. “The tourist industry is virtually dead in the past 12 years, and you know how many youths could be employed in the tourism industry.”
Pidomson said the wider economic problems in Rivers had contributed to insecurity, arguing that investment, jobs and effective governance were needed to change the situation. “And so River State needs a reset. So when I say I’m not coming just to occupy a position, I come prepared to solve problems.”
He also rejected allegations linking him to gangs and political violence, saying those making such claims should provide evidence. “I don’t sponsor gangs. I’m not a member of any gang.”
Pidomson said he was opposed to violence ahead of the election and would mobilise supporters to participate peacefully.“For now, I’m focused on mobilising for this election. They can go ahead and say what they want, but what I’m focused on, I’m against violence in this election.”
“We shall try as much as possible to resist any form of violence against our people. We’ll mobilise our people, and we’ll get ready for the election.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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