Rivers State APC Gubernatorial Candidate Speaks Out on Governorship Election Manipulations

Strategic Insights -

Tonye Cole, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, has spoken out about the manipulations and violence that marred the recently concluded governorship election in the state. In an interview, Cole slammed Governor Nyesom Wike's tactics, which he described as intimidation, violence, bribery, threat, killing, and other undemocratic means to ensure the election was stolen. Cole maintained that he has a good relationship with President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but disputed the notion that the deal between Wike and Tinubu was necessary for APC's victory in the presidential poll.

Key Takeaways:

  • Tonye Cole accused Governor Nyesom Wike of using undemocratic means, including intimidation, violence, bribery, and threat, to manipulate the governorship election in Rivers State.
  • Cole stated that he has a good relationship with President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and that they met one-on-one to discuss the alleged deal between Wike and Tinubu.
  • Cole said that APC had worked stage by stage and had a strong presence in Rivers State, making it unnecessary for Wike and Tinubu to make a deal.
  • Cole emphasized that the resolve to give the people of Rivers State their rightful mandate is what will bring assuagement to the pain of those who lost their lives in the process.
  • Cole stated that he will cooperate with everyone in Rivers State who wants change, including those from PDP, SDP, and other parties.
  • Cole agreed that election disputes should be sorted out before the inauguration of a new government, suggesting that this would ensure a more orderly and clean transition.
  • Cole expressed that any deal that doesn't take into consideration the welfare of the people of Rivers State is not a deal that he is interested in.
  • Cole believes that those who died during the election deserve to have their families addressed and provided for, and that only then can a form of atonement be made.

Statistics:

  • According to Tonye Cole, "the people of Rivers State are getting the wrong end of the stick" and their welfare needs to be considered in any deal.
  • Cole stated that "nothing was going according to plan" at 2 pm on the day of the presidential election.
  • Cole mentioned that "people died" and "a mandate was stolen" in the governorship election, leading to a dispute over the results.
  • Cole emphasized that "we have enough evidence to overturn the result in court".
  • Cole estimated that "APC had gone to every local government, ward to ward" to work on its campaign in Rivers State.

Sources:

  • Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, as mentioned in the interview.
  • Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President-elect, as mentioned in the interview.
  • APC, All Progressives Congress, as mentioned in the interview.
  • INEC, Independent National Electoral Commission, as mentioned in the interview.