Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Cole emphasized that the prolonged dispute has deepened existing divisions. He called for a unified, broad-based effort to reconstruct the state, urging stakeholders to look beyond party affiliations for the greater good.

The APC chieftain disclosed that he has already begun initiating contact with political actors and stakeholders across various divides in an effort to mend fences and foster unity.

“I am one of those that have reached out across the board to different people, calling them and saying to them that, look, we have fought a fight that has left Rivers State further back 20 years than we have ever been in our entire history as a state,” Cole stated. “And this is one of the times when we now must all come together to build a new Rivers State.”

Cole argued that the rebuilding process must be inclusive, drawing competent individuals from all political spectrums rather than being dominated by a single faction. In his view, the collective interests of the state must supersede individual or party political differences.

He added, “We have to do that across party lines. We don’t care whether you are PDP, whether you are APC, whether you are ADC, whether you are NDC. What we care about now is that Rivers State has to seek the best from everywhere, bring them together, and let us forge a master plan that allows us to move forward.”

Reflecting on the past, the former candidate maintained that political confrontation and division have yielded no tangible development for the state.

“Because we have tried the division, we have tried the fighting, and that has failed. So, how do we move the state forward? And that’s where we are,” Cole remarked.

Cole reiterated that active measures are being taken to unite aggrieved parties and secure a shared commitment toward progress in Rivers State.

“So we are reaching out to all aggrieved parties, and we are bringing everybody together to say, you know what? Can we agree that we now need to move Rivers State forward?” he explained.

Concluding his remarks, Cole issued a stark warning that failure to reconcile these political camps could result in another damaging cycle of conflict, further hindering the state’s advancement.

“The only way to do that is to bring the best from all the camps and let us put ourselves together so that we can deliver a new Rivers State,” he stated. “That is how we build this new state. If not, we’re going into another very bitter division, which will not progress us.”

This mandatory public disclosure of Form EC9 is in strict compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, which mandates that the commission publish this information within 21 days of receiving the nominations.

Political parties finalized the online submission of their nominated candidates’ names and personal details on Tuesday, July 14, following a 72-hour extension granted by INEC. The initial submission window under the revised timetable had been set from June 27 to July 11, 2026.

According to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, parties are required to submit these nominations, including Forms EC9 and accompanying schedules, no later than 120 days before the scheduled election date.

When asked if the recent three-day extension for submission would delay the publication date, INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, indicated that he did not anticipate any change. Speaking in a personal capacity, Ifogah explained, “I doubt. It might not necessarily affect it. It’s just for the Commission to put the information together and submit it. This is my opinion. I’m not talking officially.”

In a related development, the online submission process for governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates began on July 18 and is scheduled to continue until August 8, 2026. INEC has set August 29, 2026, as the date for publishing the particulars of these state-level candidates.

The party primaries that determined the candidates for all elective positions were conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

As previously scheduled by INEC, the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on January 16, 2027, followed by the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.

Owumi delivered this ultimatum in Enugu during a joint workshop organized by the NPFL and Afrinvest for club Media Officers, Media Directors, and Marketing Officers, titled ‘NPFL/Afrinvest Marketing Investments, Brand Merchandising and Media’.

The COO identified the widespread lack of credible, verifiable information from the 20 member clubs as a primary barrier to attracting sponsorship. He emphasized that the absence of reliable digital platforms and poor online visibility have already cost the league and its constituent clubs millions of naira in potential revenue.

“This is as a result of inadequate, inconsistent, epileptic and, in some cases, the complete absence of verifiable data from participating clubs that lack functional websites and adequate social media presence,” Owumi stated.

He confirmed that the league is moving to strictly enforce these new licensing standards. Under the new regulations, any top-flight club, whether newly promoted or long-established, that fails to operate a functional website will not receive the necessary licence to compete.

Beyond digital infrastructure, Owumi called on club administrators to significantly increase investment in their media and communications departments, asserting that effective public communication is vital for building a strong, marketable club brand.

“Club administrators should up their game and make adequate adjustments by properly funding their media departments,” he urged. “Without adequate funding and consistent training of media personnel, the media departments will not perform optimally. They will only perform below average.”

Owumi argued that a media department is the primary vehicle through which a club is presented to the public, declaring that a club without an effective media team is virtually invisible.

He outlined the ideal structure for a professional media unit, recommending a team of five or six specialized personnel, including a Director of Media, Still Photographer, Graphic Designer, News Editor, Social Media Manager, Content Creator, and Videographer.

Concluding his address, Owumi criticized the common but unsustainable practice of many NPFL clubs that assign the entire spectrum of media responsibilities—photography, reporting, social media, video, and graphics—to a single individual.

“This is an unprofessional, unproductive, and counter-effective approach to sports journalism,” he asserted.