By John ODHE, YENAGOA
The Bayelsa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been caught in the web of internal crisis as the acclaimed leader of the party in the state, Mr. Matthew Karimo says he is not aware of an existing state executive council of the ADC..
Karimo who served as commissioner for works under the first civilian governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, made the assertion while speaking to newsmen at his Adagbabiri hometown in Sagbama Local Government Area of the State.
Karimo said he was shocked to hear the announcement of the names of Mr. Tovie Derek as chairman, Oyintonye Omukago, deputy chairman and Victor Eritei as secretary of the State council over the radio, alleging that Derek’s tenure as State chairman ended on May 12th, 2026 and they ceased to function from that day.
When reached over the telephone for his reaction, Derek described Karimo’s allegations as false and unfounded.
“Karimo was suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he remains a nobody in the ADC.
“Bayelsans can now see and understand why Matthew Karimo was suspended from the APC. Any body having political affairs with Matthew Karimo in the name of ADC is doing that at his own perils,” Derek declared.
He countered Karimo’s claim that the national leadership of the ADC under Senator David Mark has dissolved all state chairmen, adding that a federal high court in Abuja presided over by Justice J. O. Abdulmalik on April 29th, 2026 set aside David Mark’s dissolution of state councils.
Last Saturday at the party’s secretariat along DSP Alamieyeseigha Expressway in Yenagoa, Derek was reelected as chairman alongside 32 others as state executive council of the ADC in Bayelsa State.
