– The convoy of the APC governorship candidate in Rivers state, Tonye Cole, was involved in an accident
– Two women were hit and killed in the accident while one other woman sustained serious injuries
– The APC candidate has reportedly reached out to the families of the victims
The convoy of the governoship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tonye Cole, was involved in an accident which led to the death of two women while one other woman sustianed injuries and has been admitted in a hospital.
The governorship candidate’s convoy was on its way to Otapha with Cole on board for a ward-to-ward sensitisation tour before the accident happened, The Punch reports.
An eyewitness who identified himself as Kiponye said: “The Rivers APC governorship candidate was on his way to Otapha in Abua on a ward-to-ward sensitisation visit.
“While on their way in Egbolom, a motorcycle suddenly joined the road .\and the soldiers leading the convoy tried to avoid hitting the bike and in the process, they swerved to the edge of the road, hitting and killing two women on the spot.
“The deceased women have been taken to the morgue. Right now, we have not been able to ascertain the identities of the women. But they are from Egbolom.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, adding that Cole has contacted the family of the victims.
He said: “I understand that the governorship candidate and the DPO of the area have reached out to the families of the deceased and injured persons.”
The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Chris Finebone, who also confirmed the incident, said: “The candidate, who was in one of the vehicles that had moved about half a kilometre ahead, ordered the vehicles to make a U-turn. The candidate joined others to visit the hospital, where the two women were confirmed dead.
“We then went to report the matter to the divisional police in the area while the activities of the day were cancelled as a result of the death of the two women. It was an accident that could happen to anybody.
“The candidate and the party have restated that they would stand by the family of those deceased and injured.”
Meanwhile, TRACK NEWS earlier reported that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state said Senator Hope Uzodinma, whose name was released by the Independence and National Electoral Commission as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot win election in the state.
Okorocha, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the governorship candidate does not have what it takes to win election in Imo state.
