…,…. but consensus governorship candidate of riverine extraction
The All Progressives Congress (APC) ,Rivers State has clarified the air about the emergence of Arch. Tonye Cole as consensus governorship candidate.
In a statement on Monday signed by the Party Spokesman of the state, Senibo Chris Finebone, the party has yet to annoint a standard bearer to fly its governorship flag saying that Cole emerged as the consensus governorship aspirant of riverine extraction.
The statement said that 19 leaders of the party met last Friday on the directive of the leader of the party, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to pick a consensus aspirant among aspirants of Riverine extraction and Cole was chosen after thorough scrutiny of 12 aspirants that participated
The statement entitled”
ARC. TONYE COLE EMERGES AS CONSENSUS GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT OF RIVERINE EXTRACTION ” reads;
Following the overwhelming interest shown by a cross section of Rivers people, Nigerians and particularly the media over an otherwise internal mechanism activated last Friday to pick a consensus aspirant of riverine extraction for the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State by the All Progressives Congress, APC, it has become expedient and highly necessary to provide clarification to all. This is expected to clear all doubts and provide a clear summary of what happened.
Firstly, it must be stated that the leadership of Rivers State Chapter of APC consisting of 19 leaders met last Friday and chose a consensus aspirant of riverine extraction to contest the governorship primaries for the 2023 elections. The exercise took place in the absence of Honourable Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi who declined to participate in the process. After a thorough scrutiny of all the aspirants, Arc Tonye Cole was chosen as he scored the highest vote among the 12 aspirants that participated.
Secondly, for the avoidance of doubt, no standard bearer to fly the Party’s governorship flag in Rivers State has emerged as yet as such can only happen in accordance with Party rules, regulations and the 2022 Electoral Act.
Thirdly, we recall that the Party is still committed to its earlier position to support the emergence of a governor of riverine extraction after 24 years of upland governorship. All party faithful are implored to continue to go about their activities with decorum and peacefully as the next four weeks are bound to be busy and packed full with political activities.
Senibo Chris Finebone
State Publicity Secretary
25th April, 2022
