Politics
Tonye Cole Alleges Undemocratic Measures Used In Rivers State Election
On Thursday, Tonye Cole, the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, during an interview with Arise TV claimed that there was a deal between the President-elect, and Governor Wike that ensured the presidency would be delivered to the APC and that Governor Wike would be allowed to get his preferred governorship candidate through.
However, Cole alleges that the deal didn’t work out because the politics in Rivers state was not favorable, and Governor Wike had to resort to undemocratic measures like violence, bribery, and intimidation to ensure that the election was stolen by the PDP.
He said “with the deal that wike and the president elect did, that’s an open secret. That deal was essentially that the presidency should be delivered to the APC and the APC president elect should allow woke to do whatever he is going to do to get his governorship candidate through.
“Assume that that deal went through, the main aspect of it was the politics in river State was not going to allow that deal to work as easily as governor woke assumed.
“And so what he had to do was deploy intimidation, violence, bribery, threat, killing and a sort of things to ensure that the election was stolen. And having doe that, my president elect cannot stand by and encore all those things and just say that ” This is allowed to go”.
“He will not be able to do that because the facts on the ground are that these things were the only way that PDP could win the election in the state by deploying undemocratic measure to win and that is what we are standing on.
“For us we are not interested in what kind of politics is about deal making, so we are not interested in wether a deal was made or not made.
“What we are interested in is that having done that deal, what happened on the election day and can we get it through? Regarding collaboration with agrief members of the PDP who are fighting with woke, we are collaborating with everybody who is in rivers state that wants the truth.
“Those who are in SDP, PDP, APC. Everybody who knows rivers state needs to be removed from these next that we find ourselves and put on the right track. We will find them, they will stand as witnesses and we will work together.” He added.
After a series of delays, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Rivers State has finally held its much-anticipated meeting with the Sole Administrator of the state, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas.
The meeting, which took place in Abuja, comes as the House exercises its constitutional powers to assume the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following the ongoing political crisis in the state.
In his opening remarks, Vice Admiral Ibas apologised for his inability to attend earlier scheduled meetings, citing the need for more time to settle into his new role.
READ ALSO: Ibas Makes First Appearance At NEC Meeting As Rivers Sole Administrator
He told the committee that he is still acclimatising to the demands of his position and appealed for the lawmakers’ understanding as he prepares to provide a detailed briefing.
Shortly after his plea, the session went into a closed-door meeting, with journalists and observers asked to leave.
More to follow………….
Deji Adeyanju, a Nigerian activist and lawyer, has made explosive claims regarding the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that former Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso secretly supported President Bola Tinubu’s campaign.
In a post shared on his 𝕏 page Thursday, Adeyanju contended that Obi, who ran against Tinubu, would likely continue to support the president in future political endeavors.
He expressed certainty that Obi would decline any efforts to form a coalition aimed at challenging Tinubu in the next election.
READ ALSO: Lad Who Stood In Front Of Obi’s Convoy Apprehended For Street Fighting – Police
“I’m 100% convinced that Obi worked for Tinubu in 2023 and will do so again. I might be wrong, but I’m convinced in my mind about this,” Adeyanju wrote.
“Once a businessman, always a businessman. Those still in doubt will see the clear handwriting before 2027. He will refuse to join the coalition,” he continued.
Additionally, Adeyanju accused Kwankwaso of working in favor of Tinubu during the previous election.
He emphasized that for any opposition coalition to succeed in the 2027 race, figures like Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—another presidential hopeful—must step aside.
“For the coalition to succeed, all the self-centered politicians like Atiku & Obi should promise not to run and allow neutral folks to run against Tinubu,” Adeyanju proposed. “This is how to put the interest of the nation above personal interest,” he added.
The activist went on to criticize the culture surrounding Nigerian politics, describing it as an industry driven by opportunism.
He lamented the presence of “merchants” surrounding top politicians, accusing them of putting personal gain ahead of the country’s well-being. “The biggest industry in Africa is politics,” Adeyanju said.
“And those around popular politicians are all merchants. Once politics is around the corner, they are in business. Con men and women who just want to cash out.”
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in March 2025.
READ MORE: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
The NEC meeting, which is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gathered a number of state governors and deputy governors from across the 36 states of Nigeria to discuss important national economic issues.
Among the notable figures in attendance was Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Governor Oborevwori led the opening prayers at the meeting on the instruction of Vice President Shettima.
Other state governors present included Rev. Fr. Hycinth Alia of Benue State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River, along with several deputy governors.
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