Sokonte Davies breaks rank with Tonye Cole, joins Rivers APC gubernatorial race

Former member representating Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sokonte Davies has pulled out of the earlier agreement by himself and 18 other aspirants to back the candidacy of Tonye Cole as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Davies, in a statement, said he was picking the nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the governorship election in Rivers State because “emanating events as a result of the process are becoming bothersome”.

“Dearly beloved party men and women, recall that a number of aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State chapter, including myself, had earlier reached a decision to support whoever emerged from an acceptable process that will reduce the number of aspirants for the primary election bothering on who will fly our party’s flag in the 2023 governorship election.

“This, I believe was to foster unity amongst the aspirants and promote party cohesion.

“Also, recall that on the 22nd of April 2022, far reaching decisions were taken by some elders of the party, whom I respectfully call the 19 Cardinals concerning who the consensus ASPIRANT of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State chapter would be, especially among the Rivers Ijaw aspirants.

“The party elders in their wisdom announced Pastor Arch Tonye Cole as the consensus aspirant for the APC for the purposes of the primaries.

“Subsequently, and in the spirit of sportsmanship and as one who commits to a process whenever I get into one, I congratulated Arch Tonye Cole on his emergence as the preferred aspirant and called on everyone to support him.

“This has been my position all these past few days. However, emanating events as a result of the process are becoming bothersome. And whilst I do not oppose the outcome and still accept the integrity of the eminent party leaders, some of the said events have the potential to make it difficult for us to go to the 2023 general elections as a united front.

“Consequently, after wide consultation with the topmost leadership of the party, I have decided to put myself forward to contest the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.

“I announce to you that an option is before you today. I have also in the spirit of this, picked up my Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.

“I will be reaching out to more of you and counting on your support as we embark on this journey together. I submit to you today, that this is about all of us and not some of us,” the statement read.