The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has said its current membership strength is over 800,000 and counting.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Luckyman Egila, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port.
The coalition party spokesman described the party as a beautiful bride, adding that prominent politicians, including two former governors and two senators, had officially joined and received their party membership cards.
“The ADC, as of today, is a beautiful bride that is receiving key politicians into its fold.
“We are a moving train because, politically, we don’t see anyone capable of stopping the ADC from clinching whatever ticket or office we want in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.
“As for Rivers State, we have the likes of Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former governor, and Celestine Omehia, who is also a former governor. The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, is also a member of the ADC.
“We also have Senator Lee Maeba and Senator Andrew Uchendu as members of our party. Of course, you should know that Senator Andrew Uchendu is the Vice Chairman, South-South of the ADC as of today.”
Egila added that, “These persons have left their former parties, and they are now full members of the ADC.
“And you can only become a member of a party when you have registered with that party and issued with a membership card. So all of them are now full members of the ADC.”
He mentioned new birds to party as that of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Okpara and former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo.
He expressed optimism that more people from other parties would join the coalition party in the coming days.
“The names I have mentioned are all key politicians in Rivers State, and of course, you can’t write these people off. They are all members of the ADC,” he stated.
On the membership strength of the party in the state, Egila said the ADC had structures in every local government area and every community in Rivers before now.
“We have grown from where we were, and as of today, we have over 800,000 members in Rivers State, and the number is growing by the day,” he said.
While noting that the party didn’t just come into the limelight with the birth of the coalition, he said the ADC had always been there, saying it contested the 2023 elections.
“We are one of the parties that Rivers people sorted for and voted for in 2023,” he said.
Egila insisted there was no crisis in its fold.
“The African Democratic Congress is united, and I assure you there is no crisis in our party.
“We are a party that has integrity and we don’t tolerate any form of disrespect or any act that will bring the party to disrepute,” he said.
