Former Rivers State governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, has voiced his criticism of the recently concluded local government elections in the state, stating that the exercise “could have been done differently and better.â€
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain cautioned against ignoring public sentiment and the foundational rules of democracy. “One of the things that we have to be very careful about is that democracy is something that is continuous,†Cole said. “Now, if we begin to ignore how the people feel, and we ignore the laws and the rules of democracy, and we set our own rules, I think it’s a very dangerous trend.â€
Despite his dissatisfaction with the process, Cole noted the importance of accepting the outcome and focusing on the future. He stressed the need for a more “holistic approach†that engages the people and ensures they understand the process impacts their well-being.
“I don’t agree with the way the elections were done, but it is done; all we have to do is move on to the next one,†he concluded, signaling a move towards the next steps for the state’s political landscape.
