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.
He spoke to a crowd in Akwa Ibom State, emphasising the importance of voter participation and electoral accountability.
Former governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has issued a warning that electoral officials who fail to count votes in the 2027 elections will face consequences.
He spoke to a crowd in Akwa Ibom State, emphasizing the importance of voter participation and electoral accountability.
“In the upcoming election in 2027, anybody who refuses to count our vote, we will count the person join. Anybody who refused to count our votes in 2027, we will count him.”
The event concluded with calls for citizens and political actors to support a credible and peaceful electoral process in 2027.
Obi left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after disagreements over the party’s nomination process ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
He subsequently joined the Labour Party and contested the 2023 presidential election under its platform.
His campaign drew widespread attention across Nigeria, especially among young voters, and was noted for its emphasis on transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Observers said Obi’s experience in the 2023 election has shaped his continued focus on electoral integrity and the proper counting of votes ahead of 2027.
In December 2025, Obi formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling his continued involvement in national politics and his commitment to participating in future elections under a new party platform.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the date of the general election in 2003 after Christians protested over a clash with Easter.
INEC had initially fixed April 19, 2003, for the governorship and state house of assembly elections.
The date, however, coincided with Holy Saturday, a day preceding Easter Sunday, a significant event on the Christian calendar.
In a statement at the time, the conference said the decision demonstrated insensitivity to the religious commitments of a large segment of the population.
The bishops implored INEC to move the election in the spirit of inclusiveness and national harmony.
The protest sparked public debate over the need to balance electoral timelines with religious observances.
Following consultations and mounting pressure, INEC announced a shift in the election date.
The commission subsequently moved the governorship and state assembly elections to a new date in the same month.
Atiku, others kick against 2027 general election dates
A similar debate has been ignited after the electoral umpire announced dates for the 2027 general election.
Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, on Friday announced dates for the presidential and national assembly elections during a news conference in Abuja.
“By virtue of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), tenure of the president, vice-president, governors and deputy governors of states of the federation (except Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states) will expire on the 28th day of May, 2027 while membership of the national and state assemblies will stand dissolved on the 8th day of June, 2027,” he said.
Outrage trailed the announcement on social media following reports that the dates fall within the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
They said that the physical challenges of fasting could affect how many people vote, and might also slow down the work of people watching the elections and those in charge of running them.
He asked the commission to think again about the February 20, 2027 date, because he was worried it would clash with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
On Friday, through his official X account, Atiku mentioned that the suggested date is “right in the middle of the Ramadan period (February 7 to March 8, 2027), a special time for fasting, thinking, and spiritual practice for many Nigerian Muslims.”
Bashir Ahmad, who used to work closely with late former president Muhammadu Buhari, also asked INEC to think again about the dates.
He tagged INEC on his X post, which partly said: “If the goal is to promote full and inclusive involvement in the election process, holding such an important national event during Ramadan could create difficulties for many people in the country.
“Many Muslims often cut back on busy daily tasks during this time so they can focus more on their religious duties. Because there are a lot of Muslims in this country, it might be a good idea to think again about when something happens so that more people can take part and it’s easier for everyone. I hope this observation is understood in a way that promotes unity and brings people together.”
INEC vows to review 2027 election dates
However, INEC, through a statement from the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the schedule was created carefully following the timeframes set out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Conducting Elections, 2022.
Haruna said that the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for conducting elections, which have been in place since 2019, set the dates when elections are to be held.
He quoted paragraph two of the regulation, which says: “The elections for the offices of President and Vice President, as well as the National Assembly, will take place on the third Saturday of February in any general election year. The elections for the offices of Governor and Deputy Governor, as well as the State Houses of Assembly, will happen two weeks after that.”
He added, “Based on this, and following these existing laws and rules carefully, the Commission set Saturday, February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.”
Even though the above points are considered, the Commission said it has acknowledged the worries raised by stakeholders about the planned dates overlapping with some nationally recognized holidays and events.
The Commission said it wants to let the public know that it is aware of all valid worries that could affect how people vote and how elections are run in general.
He said that because of these changes, “the Commission is now talking to different groups and might, if needed, ask for legal changes to deal with the issues raised, but always making sure any changes follow the laws and the constitution.”
INEC said it would continue to emphasize its strong dedication to being open, fair, and ensuring the 2027 General Election is conducted honestly and reliably.
Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Electoral Reform Committee, Monday Ubani, SAN, says the Senate’s proposal on the Electoral Reform Amendment Bill leaves room for error.
Ubani made this statement on Saturday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television.
He said that both electronic transmission and transfer involve manual collation that happens in collation centers, stressing that nothing has changed.
According to him, IREV is just for viewing results, maintaining that it does not calculate or tabulate results.
The lawyer added that the issue most Nigerians have with the Senate’s version is that there’s room for communications failure that can be illegally taken advantage of.
“The Senate proposed bill leaves room for electoral error. If there are differences, there will be a harmonization committee to look at those differences and come up with a harmonized version for transmission to the President for assent.
“And I’m very happy that the House of Representatives did theirs last year and then the Senate have actually also passed their own version and there are differences and then the committee will sit on Monday in order to harmonize that position.
“The position of the law, which is 2022 Act, was that it gave INEC the responsibility of issuing out a guideline or prescribing a guideline as to the mode of transfer.
“The problem with our electoral system has always been between the polling unit and the collation centre.
“The people have witnessed a situation where a different result will be declared at the collation centre, different from what happened at the polling unit,” he said.
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GOVERNOR FUBARA APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR KEN SARO-WIWA POLYTECHNIC BORI
