The Rivers 2027 Citizens’ Charter of Demands event, organised by the Rivers Peace Initiative, was held in Port Harcourt to encourage governorship candidates to commit to prioritising the needs of residents if elected in 2027. Five governorship candidates attended the event: Dr. Gabriel Pidomson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Ivy West of the African Action Congress (AAC), Rev. Minaibim Harry of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Professor Ben John of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Chief Nature Kieghe of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
The absence of Hon. Kingsley Chinda of the APC and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs of the NDC, regarded as frontline contenders in the 2027 governorship election, had generated concerns. According to the APC spokesman in Rivers State, Hon. Chibike Ikenga, the party’s governorship candidate was not invited to the event. Ikenga questioned the invitation process and the representation of Rivers residents’ interests.
Ikenga argued that the state’s population and number of registered voters, over seven million people and over three million voters respectively, were far greater than the membership of the group behind the initiative. He suggested that the organisers may not have adequately represented the interests of Rivers residents. The APC spokesman also questioned the issues to be discussed and the organisers of the event.
Oby Ndukwe, an ally of the APC governorship candidate, expressed uncertainty about whether Chinda had received an invitation. She argued that the charter was not binding on the candidates or the people of the state, adding that voters would ultimately determine who should govern Rivers State through the ballot. Ndukwe cautioned against interpreting Chinda’s absence as a rejection of the demands of Rivers residents.
Ndukwe described the gathering as an initiative by a group rather than a programme representing the entire state. She maintained that the people’s mandate through the ballot was what would be binding on the candidates, not a private or sectorial group making demands. The ally of the APC governorship candidate also noted that voters would soon test their popularity.
The Rivers Peace Initiative organised the event to encourage governorship candidates to commit to prioritising the needs of residents if elected in 2027. The initiative aimed to promote accountability and good governance in the state. Meanwhile, the APC and NDC governorship candidates provided reasons for their absence from the event, citing an unclear invitation process and a conflicting rally in Bayelsa State, respectively.
Key points
- The APC and NDC governorship candidates in Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Chinda and Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, were absent from the Rivers 2027 Citizens’ Charter of Demands event.
- The absence of the candidates generated concerns, with the APC questioning the organisers’ invitation process and the NDC citing a conflicting rally in Bayelsa State.
- The event was organised by the Rivers Peace Initiative to encourage governorship candidates to commit to prioritising the needs of residents if elected in 2027.
