By Sandra Kenneth
The Rivers State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gabriel Pidomson, has declared that party members and supporters will go into the 2027 general elections prepared to defend themselves against any form of violence or intimidation.
Speaking during a consultative forum with the leadership of a non-governmental organization, the Frontiers for Peace and Unity (FPU), in Port Harcourt, Pidomson stated symbolically that supporters would approach the poll with “the Holy Bible in one hand and a sword in the other.”
While advising ADC members not to initiate attacks against anyone before, during, or after the elections, he urged them to exercise their right to self-defense if targeted. Pidomson also issued a stern warning to individuals threatening violence in Ikwerre Local Government Area, emphasizing that no single political actor has a monopoly on force or can intimidate the electorate in the upcoming polls.
Reaffirming his commitment to the race, the ADC candidate dismissed assertions that he might step down for pecuniary gain, asserting that he is not a “transactional politician.” He promised the FPU leadership full inclusion in his administration if elected, describing the forthcoming contest as a battle of “light against light.”
In her remarks, the National Coordinator of FPU, Ambassador Ikalama Owas, sought a formal partnership with the ADC candidate and the party. She expressed confidence that an ADC-led government would effectively address the state’s pressing challenges, including youth restlessness, unemployment, infrastructural deficits, and insecurity.
Earlier, the Rivers State Coordinator of FPU, ThankGod Okannah, outlined the group’s mission to liberate the people of Rivers State and the South-South region from poverty, bad governance, and political dominance by any single individual.
