The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that Tonye Cole, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State no longer exists after Monday’s Federal High Court judgement which nullified all congresses conducted by the opposition party in the state.
PDP chairman in Rivers State, Felix Obuah who stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Jerry Needam in Port Hacourt, described a recent remark against the State Governor, Nyesom Wike by spokesman of the State APC’s campaign, Ogbonna Nwuke as a mere outburst.
Obuah said as long as the judgement of the High Court judgment which nullified the congress that produced Mr Cole that has not been set aside, his candidature no longer exists.
The statement reads, “Mr Ogbonna Nwuke, a self-acclaimed spokesman for a party’s campaign organisation and candidate that does not exist by reason of a High Court judgment that has not been set aside, as a mere outburst.”
He said it is regrettable that Nwuke who ought to be more civilised in his approach to issues as a member of the respected ink and pen fraternity has allowed himself to be ‘infected and blindfolded’ in his bid to find relevance.”
The State PDP Chairman however advised Nwuke to learn how to talk about his superiors and leaders with some respect, decency and most importantly, imbibe the spirit of humility.
The statement further advised him to put his emotions in check while seeking relevance as an election casualty that has left him apparently demoralised.
“My first thought after reading the junk written by Nwuke against the people’s Governor was not to join issues with him because I understand his frustrations after he was rejected by his own people in the attempt to return to the House of Representatives for the second time to no avail.
“But to put the records straight and educate Mr Nwuke who has since relocated to Abuja to feed on the crumbs from his master’s tables, Governor Wike has made history in the governance of Rivers State, having fulfilled all his promises before, during and after the elections which have earned him unprecedented accolades and attracted awards nationally and internationally.
“His developmental strides traverse all sectors of the State economy, notably the education, health, judiciary, infrastructure, human Capital and so on,” he said.
The State PDP chairman noted that under Governor Wike administration, security has received top attention which accounts for the low rate of crime across the State compared to what the situation was under the immediate past administration.
Obuah noted that infrastructurally, Wike’s administration has performed far more than past administration and therefore advised Nwuke to put aside political sentiments and appreciate these rare landmark developments brought to the State by Wike.
“It is only when Ogbonna Nwuke has shown sufficient proof that he has grown above these infantile sentiments can he say something and have some audience from the more enlightened Rivers people”, Bro Obuah stated.

Dennis Naku