2023: Chieftains kick as Rivers APC picks Sahara Energy boss, Tony Cole as gov candidate

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress has picked Lagos-based businessman, Tonye Cole, as its governorship candidate in Rivers State.

Ten governorship aspirants from the riverine extraction, including Tonye Princewill and Dr. Dakuku Peterside had signed a pact to support whoever emerges amongst them.

But The PUNCH leant that one of the leaders of the party in the state and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had last week asked all 10 aspirants to halt consultation, saying the party would choose a consensus candidate.

Cole was the party’s candidate in the state in 2019, though the APC was excluded from the ballot by INEC following a court order after a series of litigations by opposing camps of both Senator Magnus Abe and Rotimi Amaechi.

Confirming the party’s choice in a statement on Saturday morning, a chieftain of the party and one of the aspirants, Tonye Princewill, said Cole was picked not by Amaechi but the party’s leadership.

The statement read, “The decision has just been made for Tonye Cole to fly the flag. It was not made by the Minister.

“It was made by the leaders of the party. The 10 aspirants plus two new names that had also indicated interest were asked to excuse themselves, while all of the leaders minus the Minister then sat and deliberated.

“We were just called back along with the Minister to be given their decision.”

Meanwhile, an insider hinted DAYLIGHT that some chieftains of the party in Rivers are not happy with the imposition of Cole on them and are threatening to fight the controversial imposition. Punch