Tonye Cole, a former APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, has declared that political parties in the state have effectively ceased to exist.
Cole made this statement during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, asserting that a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could just as easily be aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), and vice versa.
He added that the very foundations of political parties in the country have been fundamentally undermined.
“I wish Rivers State were being discussed in terms of progressive development, innovation, and advancements that benefit Nigeria. Instead, we seem perpetually mired in a cycle of political crises that show no signs of resolution.
“There have been numerous anti-party activities taking place; this has been evident to all. The troubling aspect of this situation is that it has weakened the core principles of all political parties. Nowadays, political parties no longer represent their intended purpose; individuals can belong anywhere. You might be in the PDP but running for office under the APC, or vice versa. This is absolutely wrong.
“I believe what is happening in Rivers is sending a clear message to the nation: this state of affairs cannot continue indefinitely. At some point, political actors must commit to a clear stance.
“Indeed, the current perception of political parties in Rivers State is that they have all but disappeared. Everyone seems to be focused solely on personal interests, positioning themselves wherever those interests may lie. It is entirely plausible to be a card-carrying member of the PDP while simultaneously engaging with the APC in Rivers State, and that seems to be accepted without question.
“Nobody knows what party you belong to anymore. A PDP member acts like an APC member and vice versa. This situation is nonsensical. It reflects an overwhelming emphasis on self-interest, which is eroding the political fabric of the nation.”