The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Chief Emeka Beke, has expressed concern over what it described as misleading interpretation of a recent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.
The case, in Appeal No. CA/PH/371/2024, involves H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje and others as appellants against Peter Ohochukwu and others.
The Beke-led APC contended that prevailing interpretations of the judgment do not accurately reflect the actual decision of the appellate court.
On Friday, May 2, the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal ruled on an appeal filed by the APC National Executive Committee challenging a High Court injunction that restrained the party from conducting congresses in Rivers State.
The appellate court held that matters relating to the internal affairs and leadership of a political party are non-justiciable, thereby nullifying the earlier High Court order and striking out the suit filed by Peter Ohochukwu on behalf of the Emeka Beke-led, previously dissolved, state working committee.
In a joint statement signed by the State Chairman, Chief Emeka Beke and the Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC acknowledged the judgment but insisted it does not alter the current situation.
The statement reads in part, “The matter was an interlocutory appeal challenging the interim orders of injunction made against Appellants therein by the High Court of Rivers State.
“The judgement did not disturb the validity of the tenure of office of the duly elected Executive Committee of the Party as led by Chief Beke which has been duly recognized and affirmed by the High Court of Rivers State.”
The party recalled that on August 12, 2024, the Rivers State High Court, presided over by Justice S.H. Aprioku in Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023, affirmed and validated the tenure of the Beke-led Executive Committee as the legitimate leadership of the APC in Rivers State until October 21, 2025.
This decision, the statement noted, remained in effect as it has not been overturned or set aside by any superior court.
“It is therefore a ridiculous misadventure for any other person or group outside the Emeka Beke led Exco to claim to be Leader of the Rivers State Chapter of the APC,” the statement added.
The party also referenced “Suit No: PHC/3859/CS/2024 (Okwu Joebrown Ndike & Ors. vs. All Progressives Congress & Anor), in which claimants, having paid for nomination forms for elective congresses, were denied access to the forms and sought a court order to stop the APC from conducting congresses without providing them.
“Again, you will recall that in SUIT NO: PHC/3859/CS/2024 BETWEEN: OKWU JOEBROWN NDIKE & ORS. VS. ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS & ANOR, one Okwu Joebrown Ndike and 2 others who bought Nomination Forms for All Progressives Congress’ Ward, Local Government and State Executive Committees elective congresses. The Claimants after paying for the Nomination Forms were not given the said Forms.
“They thereafter approached the Rivers State High Court to restrain APC from conducting the said elective congresses without issuing them with the Nomination Forms.
“On November 21, 2024, the High Court granted an ex parte order maintaining the status quo and allowed substituted service of court processes to the APC National Secretariat.
“The suit and orders were served on November 22, 2024, as directed.
“Despite being served, the faction led by Tony Okocha proceeded to conduct the ward and state congresses on November 23 and 30, 2024, in defiance of the court’s directive.”
Subsequently, the claimants filed two motions seeking to nullify the congresses for being held in violation of court orders.
On December 20, 2024, the High Court ruled in favour of the claimants, nullifying the congresses and awarding N10 million in damages against the defendants for disobedience.
The court also adjourned the substantive suit sine die (indefinitely), pending the outcome of an appeal filed against the ex parte order.
While the Court of Appeal, in its May 2, 2025 judgment, ruled that the matter pertains to internal party affairs and is therefore non-justiciable, the Beke-led APC cautioned individuals claiming leadership outside the duly elected Executive Committee to desist as there is an existing judgement ratifying their leadership.
They urged all members of the APC in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast, reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy and good governance.
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