Rivers 2019: APC speaks on Amaechi choosing Dele Cole as governorship candidate

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has distanced the Minister of
Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi from the alleged imposition of
governorship candidate, Tonye Dele Cole on the party ahead of the 2019
governorship election in the state.

Reports emerged late last week that the former Governor had chosen
Cole, a businessman, for the position ahead of the election.

In reaction, Amaechi, in a statement on Saturday, noted while he has a
right to support any aspirant, he had no powers to unilaterally impose
it on the party.

Recall that a chieftain of the party in the state and former
governorship aspirant, Tonye Princewill confirmed that Cole has been
chosen to file out against Governor Nyesome Wike, but maintained that
the choice was not Amaechi's alone but the whole of the party's
leadership in the state.

But addressing the matter in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST by
the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the party said,
"The attention of the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives
Congress, APC, has been drawn to a strange and erroneous impression
being promoted in the media based on ignorance and/or mischief that
the leader of APC in Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rt.
Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has 'appointed' Arc. Tonye Dele Cole as
the governorship candidate for the party for the 2019 elections.

"This is grossly preposterous and far from the truth as there is no
provision for the appointing of a governorship candidate or indeed any
candidate whatsoever in the constitution of the APC or in the
guideline for the conduct of primaries of the APC.

"We wish to reiterate that APC in Rivers State is committed strictly
to adhering to the process for conduct of primaries for the 2019
elections in line with the Constitution of the Party and Guidelines as
proposed, ratified and published by the national leadership of the
Party.

"For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby stated for the benefit of
the media, our members and the general public that a governorship
candidate for our party in Rivers State will only emerge during the
governorship primary to be held later this month.

"We urge all stakeholders to disregard the misconception being created
and promoted in the media. Our party leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi has not and will not arrogate to himself the extra
constitutional powers to appoint a candidate for the party for any
position whatsoever and howsoever as being wrongly peddled.

"He only has the God-given right to express his preference just like
each and every one of us have the inalienable right to privately and
publicly express our preference on any issues."