Ogoni diaspora group backs ADC candidate, faults Wike

Some Ogoni people in the diaspora have expressed support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, while criticising the growing political influence of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the state. In a statement on Wednesday, Canada-based political activist and journalist Joe Karka-Waadah said no individual should be treated as a political authority whose decisions must be accepted by all ethnic groups in Rivers State. Karka-Waadah argued that the state's diverse ethnic nationalities had equal stakes in its political affairs and should be accorded equal respect, justice, and fair play. He particularly criticised Wike over his alleged role in the emergence of Hon Kingsley Chinda, an Ikwerre, as a possible contender for the 2027 governorship election, saying such a decision should not be made without broader consultation with Rivers people.

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