Tony Okocha, the caretaker chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, has renewed his accusation against Tonye Cole, the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, alleging that Cole acted against the party’s interests during the 2023 presidential election.
According to Okocha, Cole did not support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and instead aligned with opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement issued by Okocha, he stated the absence of Tinubu’s image on any of Tonye Cole’s campaign materials, including billboards, banners, and posters during the 2023 campaign season, as evidence of his lack of support for Tinubu.
He further alleged that President Tinubu snubbed an attempt by Tonye Cole to shake his hand at his residence after Tinubu’s victory, reinforcing the rift between them.
In Okocha’s words, “First, it is no longer a hidden secret that Mr. Tonye Cole is an ardent supporter of the presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Every Nigerian, including the leader of the APC, President Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the APC, is aware that Tonye Cole, Amaechi, Emeka Bekee, et al. massively supported Atiku Abubakar of the PDP during the last presidential election against the presidential candidate of the APC, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”
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He further claimed that the defeat of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, a major figure in Cole’s camp, during the APC presidential primaries, contributed to their decision to back Atiku instead of Tinubu.
Okocha further revealed that some members of the APC had secretly supported Atiku Abubakar while still being part of the party. He emphasized that Tinubu himself was aware of Cole’s opposition to his presidency.
“No wonder President Tinubu was reluctant when he was speaking during the APC presidential campaign rally at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt in 2022 to solicit votes for Tonye Cole from Rivers people because he was fully aware that Tonye Cole was totally against him and the APC and was rather supporting Atiku Abubakar,” Okocha added.
“Who does not know that throughout Tonye Cole’s campaign in Rivers State in 2023, there were none of his billboards, banners, or posters that featured the picture of Tinubu, his party’s presidential candidate?
“Tonye Cole, as instructed by Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, completely avoided any association with Tinubu throughout his campaign rallies.”
