A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and 2027 governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has announced his withdrawal from the race, saying his decision was, among other reasons, in the interest of the party’s unity.
Recall that Cole is one of the aspirants for the APC primary election scheduled to hold on Thursday. He also contested the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Others who obtained forms to seek the party’s ticket in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections are the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara; former Commissioner for Works, Dakorinama George-Kelly; and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.
Cole, in a statement released on Wednesday, said that though his decision was painful, it was in obedience to far-reaching resolutions reached concerning the future of the party in the state and the need to present a united front after several meetings convened by the APC national leadership.
He said following the outcome of the meetings, he had made extensive consultations with his team, associates, supporters, family, and other key stakeholders before deciding to withdraw in the interest of the party’s unity, peace, and collective progress.
