We’re Tired Of Court Cases – Tonye Cole

The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Pastor Tonye Cole, has condemned the abortion of the Town Hall meeting called by the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt with candidates in the forthcoming general elections in Rivers State.
Cole, who spoke to journalists shortly after the meeting was called off, said there was no clear reason why the Town Hall meeting was aborted given that it was not a party event, but an opportunity for candidates across lines to debate and tell the electorate what programmes they had in stock for them should they win the elections.
He said, “If we were here on our own as APC, just coming in to solicit votes on this ground, then I would say that is a campaign because we are here on our own. But if we were here with every other party to debate and just talk about the issues that surround our manifestoes and all of that, then I would say that is not a campaign but a debate.
“But then the fine line between what is a debate and what is a campaign, layers can begin to argue that from today till next year.
“Is there any branding, an APC logo anything in-here? Again, it can be argued. So, where you are not sure, it is better to just end with caution.
“Again we don’t want to be the one to be victims of one testing it in court. We may win. But again, money will be spent, anxiety will be raised and the right candidate may end up being disqualified in court.
“We don’t Rivers State deserves yet another court case. We have been fighting court cases since September or October. I think we are tired of court cases.”
Candidates from political parties and members of the public were already seated in the auditorium of Corpus Christi Cathedral of the Catholic Church in Port Harcourt when the organizers of the Town Hall Meeting announced the cancellation of the town hall meeting called by the church to interface with political office seekers. Among the governorship candidates were Cole of APC, Senator Magnus Abe of the Social Democratic Party, Hon. Dawari George of Action Alliance, Dumo Lulu-Briggs of Accord Party, Danagogo Wenike-Briggs and a representative of Beatrice Itubo, the Labour Party candidate. The candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Siminalayi Fubara was conspicuously absent.
The spokesman of the church said the church did not want to run foul of the law prohibiting what had been construed as a campaign and was calling off the meeting.
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had issued executive orders which prohibited political rallies in public places without express permission by local governments.