Amaechi, ADC stalwarts storm Rivers

MEMBERS of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have stormed Rivers for an official launch of the party in the state.

Some of the party members who were at the airport to welcome them expressed optimistic that former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will pair for the 2027 presidential ticket.

They made their intentions known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa on Wednesday.

They said that they were at the airport to welcome Amaechi alongside other party stalwarts for an official lunch of the party in the state.

A former governorship aspirant in the 2023 general election, Mr Tele Bathram,  said he is optimistic of the party’s victory if Amaechi and Atiku fly the party’s flag.

Bathram said that the party had put necessary measures in place to take over the 23 local area councils and claim total victory at the grassroots.

He described ADC as a strong coalition of politicians from the opposition parties and dissatisfied members of the ruling party.

He said that the aim of the coalition was to reposition the country’s political landscape.

Mr Christian Akujiobi, an ADC supporter, said that since the emergence of the present administration, citizens, especially in Rivers, have suffered so much deprivation.

Akujiobi said that ADC stands as the only option with which the state could reclaim its glory and urged residents to rally support for the party.

However, Mr Williams Ndamiete, a Port Harcourt resident said that the journey of taking over Rivers by the ADC had been mared by distrust.

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“Amaechi has lost support here in Rivers; he can no longer be taken seriously anymore; he abandoned his supporters while chasing national relevance.

“He may see a rented crowd welcoming him today but not committed followers because those ones have moved on,” he said.

NAN reported that ADC has been adopted as a coalition of opposition politicians attracting membership from bigwigs across the country.

Top on the list of members include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Uche Secundus.

The party’s national chairman is former Senate President, David Mark while former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola is the national Secretary.