The battle for the governorship seat in Rivers State appears set for an epic face-off between riverine candidates as business mogul, Tonye Cole just emerged flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which effectively pits him against his Ijaw kinsman, Siminialayi Fubara, who emerged flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday night.

The clamour for a riverine governor has in recent years risen to fever pitch with every stakeholder being urged to consider that option for equity, fairness and political justice.

Cole, who is the founder of Sahara Energy Group, polled 986 votes ahead of his Kalabari kinsmen, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Sokonte Davies and Ibinabo Michael-West, who polled 190, 49 and 43 votes, respectively to emerge first, second and third runners-up.

Other contestants include Bernard Mikkio and Magnus Abe who polled two and one votes respectively.

With today’s outcome, a clear battle line has been drawn between the two frontline political parties in the State, the outcome of which will bequeath Rivers State with a riverine Governor 29 years after Rufus Ada George’s brief stint at the Brick House.

Voters in Rivers State will now wait to hear the unique offerings of each of the candidates and the prospects they represent for governance and development of a State that is yearning for intentional leadership and developmental progress.

While Tonye Cole will bring to bear his business acumen and understanding of economic imperatives to jumpstart the economy of the State, it is also expected that should he win, Siminialayi Fubara would deploy his years of experience as a financial expert to turn the State around.

Both men are of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. Siminialayi Fubara, an Ibani, hails from Opobo Town in Opobo/Nkoro LGA of the State; while Tonye Cole, a Kalabari, hails from Abonnema in Akuku-Toru LGA.

Tonye Patrick Cole, aged 55, who is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, University of Brasília, and University of Lagos, is the co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, an Africa-wide energy conglomerate. He has had career exposures in global institutions such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), United Nations (UN), UNDP Sustainable Development Group Fund (SDG-F), The African Philanthropy Forum and the World Bank Group.

On his part, Siminialayi Fubara, who holds the traditional title of Amaopusenibo in his home Opobo Town, is an Accountant. A career civil servant, he rose through the ranks of the Rivers State Civil Service to become the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance. Prior to this, he was the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), Government House, Port Harcourt.

Those managing both men will now work to converge votes from sister ethnic groups to those of the candidates, political pressure groups, community associations, youth groups and the student community.