April 25, (THEWILL) – The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained the circumstances that led to the emergence of Tonye Cole as its consensus candidate and further insisted that the party leader, Rotimi Amaechi, excused himself from the process.
The party in a statement issued on Monday by its State Publicity Secretary, Senibo Chris Finebone, affirmed that the 19 leaders of the party who partook in the straw poll were guided by the philosophy of shifting power to the riverine area after what would have been 24 years of upland rule.
The statement partly 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 the 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.”
