Don’t Subvert The Will Of Rivers People – Tonye Cole

Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to subvert the will of the people of Rivers State by accommodating concocted results from agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Cole, who was denied the opportunity to contest via spurious court rulings against his party’s congresses and primaries, stated that the adopted candidate of his party, Awara Biokpomabo of the African Action Congress (AAC) was in a clear lead in the governorship elections before INEC suspended the polls.

In a statement by the spokesman of the Cole/Giadom Campaign Organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, the billionaire business mogul accused INEC of always meddling in the efforts of Rivers people to decide who leads them, citing the case of Port Harcourt state constituency 3 which INEC suspended indefinitely the election to fill the vacant seat in the House of Assembly.

Below is the statement as released:

Press Statement

We have learnt that the Independent Electoral Commission has suspended the collation of election results in which Engineer Biokpomabo Awara of the African Action Congress, AAC was set to win.

We have also learnt that the precipitate decision taken by INEC was based on a presumptive assumption that the election was marred by violence.

Our position is that elections in Rivers State was largely peaceful, free and fair. INEC's claim when compared with the situation on ground does not reflect what is on ground. Neither does it reflect the thinking and perception of the good people of Rivers State who went to vote despite threats peddled by the opposition.

In Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Ahoada-West, Eleme, Oyigbo, Ikwerre, Emohua, and other areas, elections conducted by the commission were free and fair.

The results that have been so far received show that Engineer Biokpomabo Awara of the AAC supported by the APC was poised to win.

We are shocked that agents of the PDP serving in INEC who are known to be acting in cohorts with the PDP would mislead the commission at the national level through claims that there were widespread attempts to disrupt the said elections.

For the avoidance of doubt, we insist that Engineer Awara was on the road to victory. We affirm that neither INEC nor agents of darkness in our midst can stop the will of the Rivers people at this time.

Pastor Tonye Cole and the APC believes in the supremacy of the Almighty.  God acts through people and it is our view that He has spoken.

While it is not our wish to join issues with INEC or any other democratic institution, we are satisfied that those born of women have demonstrated that those who seemingly do not have a choice in choosing who should lead them can indeed prove to the world that humans are products of women and respectable gentlemen.

We wish to categorically state that Rivers people will resist any attempt by INEC and the collaborators of the PDP to stifle the right of the Rivers people to decide their future.

Our assumption is that INEC will not tamper with results that have already been collated in favour of Engineer Awara and the AAC. Those results which represent the will of the people are sacrosanct and should not be tampered with.

We want to state unequivocally that we are aware that results in five LGAs were inconclusive while the collation of results in the remaining LGAs were not ready at the time of the suspension of the elections.

Recall that the same INEC in Rivers State suspended the announcement of results in PHALGA last year when it was clear that APC was on the road to victory in a State House of Assembly election.

Our people are tired of INEC's meddling in the electoral process. INEC must respect the will of the people and the time to do so is now.

All said, we want to thank the Rivers people for their resolve which aptly proves that change is the only constant factor. Whether we are born of women or not, what is clear is that the Rivers people are captains of their destiny.

The APC shall protect the will of the Rivers people. No amount of intimidation or manipulation by any one no matter how highly placed would change the determination of Rivers people to liberate themselves from those who believe that Rivers money is good enough to settle non Rivers people who are working at cross purpose with the will of the masses.

Finally, we urge INEC staff to read the mood of the people. We can no longer continue to prevail on our supporters to protect all those whose actions undermine our future and the thinking of our people.

Ogbonna Nwuke

Spokesman

Gole/Giadom Campaign Organisation