The All Progressive Congress (APC) has ignore the ruling of the Supreme Court in respect of the Rivers State governorship primaries and has submitted the name of one of the contending aspirants, Tonye Cole to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC).
Cole and Senator Magnus Abe are laying claim to the ticket and are the reason for the supreme court’s ruling that voided the primaries that produced them.
But the APC National Working Committee (NWC) says the supreme court ruling in the matter does not matter for now hence the granting of the ticket to Cole.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary said in a statement on Thursday:
“In view of conflicting interpretations that have greeted the recent verdict of the Supreme Court on the contentions among our members in Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it has become necessary to clarify that the Supreme Court’s verdict has nothing to do with the primaries conducted for the governorship and legislative positions in the state.
“Therefore, the candidature of Arch. Tonye Cole along with his running mate, Hon. Victor Giadom remains inviolate. The list of our candidates for the governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly have been processed by the National Working Committee (NWC) according to the INEC guidelines.
“Our party appreciates the support of the good people of Rivers State and their commitment towards the victory of our governorship candidate, Arch. Tonye Cole and other APC candidates at all levels in the 2019 elections.
“A progressive leadership under the APC beckons and the people of Rivers State are poised to effect a change to move the beleaguered state to a path of progress and development.”