Political Allegiance Unclear for Tonye Cole as He Challenges Wike's Party Affiliation
In a recent interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Tonye Cole, the former gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, expressed concern over the persistent political confusion in the state. Cole emphasised the importance of establishing good governance and the rule of law for progress to occur.
Cole claimed that he remains the leader of the APC faction in Rivers State, but did not mention any intention to participate in the upcoming Rivers State Local Government election. However, the state has been in the news for the wrong reasons, according to Cole, who described the state of politics as chaotic.
The political landscape in Rivers State is currently dominated by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a former governor of Rivers State. Wike, who is politically affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, has consolidated control over both the PDP and APC ahead of the forthcoming local elections scheduled for August 30, 2025.
Reports indicate that Wike is fully aligned with the APC and the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite his formal PDP membership. His loyalists have emerged as candidates for both parties in the local government elections, underscoring his consolidated control over Rivers State politics.
Cole, however, expressed uncertainty about Wike's political affiliation, stating it could be the PDP, APC, or a mixture of both. The former gubernatorial candidate claimed that it is unclear which party is in existence in Rivers State, with it appearing to be a mixture of the PDP and APC.
In the midst of this political uncertainty, Cole reiterated the need for good governance and the rule of law in Rivers State for progress to occur. The article does not provide information about any other political parties or individuals mentioned in the suggested article titles. It is clear that the political landscape in Rivers State is complex and evolving, with Tonye Cole leading the legitimate APC faction and Nyesom Wike shaping the political environment strongly in his favour going into the 2025 local elections.
- The APC's former Rivers State gubernatorial candidate, Tonye Cole, has expressed concern over the state's persistent political confusion on Channels Television's Politics Today.
- Cole emphasized the crucial role of good governance and the rule of law for progress in Rivers State.
- Despite his formal affiliation with the PDP in Rivers State, reports suggest that Nyesom Wike, the current political landscape's dominant figure, is aligned with the APC and the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
- The upcoming Rivers State Local Government election is shaping up to be a contest between Wike's loyalists, who have emerged as candidates for both the PDP and APC.
- The legitimacy of the APC in Rivers State is uncertain, according to the former gubernatorial candidate, Tonye Cole, who claimed that it appears to be a mixture of the PDP and APC.
- Amidst this complex political landscape, Cole reiterated the need for good governance and the rule of law in Rivers State for progress to occur, while no other political parties or individuals were highlighted in the article.
