…Unveils digital platform for campaign mobilisation
By Daniel Abia
PORT HARCOURT — The Ogoni Diaspora Coalition, North America, has endorsed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.
The coalition, comprising Ogoni indigenes in the United States and Canada, also unveiled a digital platform, gabrielpidomson.org, to support its mobilisation and advocacy activities ahead of the election.
In a statement issued after a meeting of the Ogoni Diaspora Support Group on August 9, 2026, the coalition said the platform would be used to communicate Pidomson’s policy proposals, connect supporters and coordinate mobilisation activities across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State and among Nigerians in the diaspora.
The resolution was signed by the coalition’s Chairman, Cornelius JS Dumerene; Vice Chairman, Chief Anthony Waadah; and Director of Communications, Engr. Ledum Nordee.
Explaining its decision, the coalition cited Pidomson’s political and public-sector experience, professional qualifications and academic background.
It noted that he had previously served as Secretary to the Rivers State Government and as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The group also highlighted his background as a civil engineer and scholar, saying his professional experience could be relevant to infrastructure development, economic planning and public administration.
The coalition said Rivers State needed leadership focused on development programmes, institutional accountability and long-term planning.
“Our state cannot afford four more years of political gridlock and recycled promises,” representatives of the coalition said.
“Dr Pidomson offers practical solutions rooted in discipline, planning and clear accountability. We are backing a candidate who understands how government works and how to deliver results for people in every corner of Rivers State.”
The group said its endorsement was informed partly by longstanding concerns over representation and development among the Ogoni people.
However, it stressed that its support for Pidomson should not be interpreted as a call for an exclusively Ogoni administration.
“Dr Gabriel Pidomson is not seeking to be an ‘Ogoni governor,’ but a leader for all people of Rivers State,” the coalition said.
It called on stakeholders across the three senatorial districts, including political leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, professional bodies, youths and women, to consider the candidate based on his proposed statewide agenda.
The coalition said its position was based on fairness, inclusiveness and cooperation among the various ethnic nationalities and communities in Rivers State.
It also said its mobilisation would extend beyond Ogoni communities, with plans to build a support network across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The coalition identified infrastructure deficits, unemployment, economic challenges, insecurity,
environmental concerns and the need to strengthen public institutions and social services as some of the issues that would require attention from the next administration.
It argued that Pidomson’s previous public-sector responsibilities had given him an understanding of government operations and the relationship between the executive and legislature.
The group also pointed to his engineering background as an asset in addressing infrastructure, urban development, transportation, environmental management and economic diversification.
However, the coalition said its endorsement was a political choice and not an ethnic entitlement, urging voters to assess all candidates based on their qualifications, policy proposals, leadership capacity and commitment to the overall interests of Rivers State.
It called on political stakeholders to prioritise the long-term development of the state over partisan and sectional interests.
“As citizens of Rivers State and members of the global Ogoni community, we believe the time has come to support a leadership vision that is inclusive, accountable and development-oriented,” the group said.
The endorsement comes as political alignments and mobilisation activities begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition said its North American members would continue to engage Rivers residents at home and abroad through its digital platform and other channels.
It also urged communities across the state to participate actively in the political process and assess the candidates and their programmes ahead of the election.
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