Tonye Cole Deflates Governorship Challenge Suit Abandonment Allegation

Tonye Cole has deflated trending stories borne on social media, which allege that that he is willing to abandon his suit at the tribunal challenging the outcome of the 2023 governorship election, for a Ministerial position offer.
Cole, candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Rivers and the party are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declaration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party as the winner of the election, which was seriously marred by violence and disenfranchisement of voters. Violent acts including the killing of 10 persons, kidnap of APC party stalwarts across the state, the flogging and wounding of voters including elderly persons, raise questions about the integrity of the election in Rivers State.
In an interview monitored on ARISE Television on Wednesday, May, 3, 2023, Cole in response to a question by Reuben Abati, on the possibility of dropping the suit if offered a Ministerial appointment by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, declared winner of the 2023 Presidential Election and President Elect by INEC, noted that,
‘I don’t know if that would settle the matter because such a position has not been brought before me. We have not been able to consider any such position. So, I don’t know if that position is on the table. What I do know today, is that people died. What I know is that, a mandate was stolen. What I am certain about is that we have enough evidence to overturn the results in court. What I’m sure about is that if the Tribunal does what it is meant to do and we have judges of impeccable character standing there, I will be the governor of Rivers State. Now, if anyone is offering me what is different from this, it has to be compelling and has to assuage the lives of those who died and assuage the feelings of those who felt their mandate was stolen, their voices stolen’ Now, It Has To Assuage that’.
Cole summed up that, ‘ What we are interested in right now, is to upturn the declaration made by INEC. I still have my belief in the Judiciary. If the right things are done with our evidence, then I will be the governor of Rivers State. This is the only thing that will assuage the death of party men and Rivers People , who sacrificed their lives for a genuine change’.
In a state known for shifty politics and morals easily exchanged for cash a place in the massive looting of public resources for personal gain, Cole has stood tall defending his position. He was physically attacked by persons believed to be PDP supporters in April 2023 in the process of securing documents at the INEC Office on Aba Road Port Harcourt, to pursue his election suit.
At least ten persons lost their lives in the violence dipped elections. Among those killed, were Chisom Lennard, 45, APC Campaign Coordinator in Ahoada West. Two other relatives of his were also shot dead, as they tried to defend their vote and question the carrying away of elections materials by persons believed to be PDPD agents. Lennard is set to be buried Saturday May 6, 2023.
Another well known person killed during the election, was Julius Akoi, an Ijaw Youth Council, IYC activist Abuja Chapter and Youth Corp member, who served as an INEC Adhoc Staff and was reportedly shot dead for insisting on proper procedure at Abua during the governorship/ House of Assembly election March 18, 2023.
Others were 3 persons reportedly killed at Ogbakiri, Two persons killed in Ogoni, One person rkilled at Omuma.