Former Governorship Candidate Tonye Cole Mentions APC Leader in Rivers After Exit of Amaechi
- A two-time gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, has mentioned who the new party leader is in the state
- There has been confusion following the exit of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the APC to the African Democratic Party (ADC)
- Cole, co-founder and executive director of the Sahara Group, explained the new APC leader in Rivers state after Amaechi's exit.
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 8 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international issues
Lagos state - A two-time gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tonye Patrick Cole, said he is technically the leader of the party in the state.
Cole said he is the APC leader in Rivers state in the absence of former governor and minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Source: UGC
Legit.ng recalls that Amaechi dumped the APC for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi criticised the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration for the challenges in the country.
The former minister added that he was expecting the ruling party to have expelled him since he told its leadership to stop sending him messages for meetings.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television,@Channelstv on Friday, September 12, 2025, Cole said he is the new APC leader in the oil-rich state.
While responding to the question of whether he is the leader of the APC in Rivers state, Cole said:
“The answer to that is technically yes. I’ve run twice under the APC. I’ve been a gubernatorial candidate twice under the APC. So naturally, as we speak today, I am the leader of the APC in Rivers state with the exit of Rotimi Amaechi.”
Rivers APC vows to work with Fubara
The Rivers state chapter of the APC, led by Chairman Chief Tony Okocha, pledged to work with the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara upon his return.
The APC's recent victory in 20 of 23 local government areas in Rivers state is seen by the party as a precursor to the 2027 general election.
The party plans to actively recruit new members, including key political figures like Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike and members of the State House of Assembly, in an effort to triple its support base by 2027.
"APC is now a threat": Wike confesses
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, claimed that the APC is now a threat in his state, Rivers.
Wike, in an interview, said that the reason for the development was due to the level of federal government appointments from the state.
The minister's comment, which came after the local government election in his state, Rivers, generated mixed reactions from some Nigerians.
Source: Legit.ng
