A statement from Amaechi's media office said he made the call during his visit to the Northern community in Rivers. Amaechi campaigned with Cole at various locations, including Computer Village and Oroworoko Community, and urged residents to protect their votes on election day.
He encouraged everyone to be their own police and to escort the election officials until the results were uploaded and announced at the Ward and Local Government centres. Amaechi reminded the people that during his tenure as Governor, he did not discriminate based on religious or ethnic lines.
He ensured that 1,200 Christians and 500 Muslims went on pilgrimage every year for eight years, and he appointed both a Muslim Pilgrims Board and a Christian Welfare Pilgrims Board.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State, Alhaji Haliru Imam, said the Northern Community in Rivers had endorsed Tonye Cole as the APC gubernatorial candidate.
The Imam praised Amaechi for his impartiality and inclusiveness during his tenure as Governor and expressed his hope that Cole, being a Pastor, would be good in office like Amaechi.
The Northern Youth Leader in Rivers, Alhaji Shehu Ahmed, expressed his pleasure at Amaechi's visit and his belief that the APC would reclaim the state. Cole assured the Northern Community of change and promised to give them the enabling environment to succeed.
He also pledged to resuscitate the Pilgrims Board and urged everyone to come out in their numbers to vote and protect their votes.