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Rivers APC raises concern over misinterpretation of Appeal Court judgment

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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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Tinubu reforms are in the right direction but social security nets to helo people cushion the effect of his reforms are needed- Okonjo-Iweala

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President Bola Tinubu had a closed door meeting the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Aso Villa in Abuja today August 14.

Tinubu and Okonjo-Iweala were in a closed-door meeting at the nation’s political capital where they discussed trade matters as they relate to national, continental and global relevance.

After the meeting, the former Minister of Finance spoke to State House correspondents. She stated that the President’s economic policies are working and that it has been able to stabilize the economy.

In her words

‘’We (The WTO) think the President and his team have worked hard to stabilize the economy and you cannot improve on an economy unless it is stable so he has to be given the credit for stability of the economy. The reforms have been in the right direction, What is needed next is growth. We now need to grow the economy and we need to put in social safety net so that people who are feeling the pinch of the reforms can also have some support to be able to weather the hardship’’

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Kebbi ADC suspends state chairman, two others

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State has suspended its chairman, Engineer Sufiyanu Bala, along with his deputy, Junaidu Muhammed Mudi, and the state secretary, Hauwa Muhammed.

Speaking to journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the party’s publicity secretary, Jamilu Muhammed, accused the Sufiyanu-led leadership of making decisions without consulting other executives.

“We address you today to announce the immediate suspension of Sufiyanu Bala, his deputy, and secretary Hauwa from the party with immediate effect,” he said.

Muhammed alleged that the suspended leaders allowed Abuja nomadic politicians to dominate the party, a move strongly opposed by the founding members.

“We will not, after tailoring the party to its present status, allow Abuja politicians to dominate it,” he added.

According to him, the decision came after an extraordinary meeting of loyal ADC members and stakeholders who have been with the party long before the coming of Abuja impostors.

The party has appointed Abdulrazaq Abubakar Isah Iko as interim chairman and Adamu Aliyu as acting secretary until a new congress is held.

The Kebbi ADC warned the suspended members to stop identifying themselves as party officials or carrying out activities in the party’s name.

It also condemned political gatherings organised by the suspended officials, saying such actions violate the Electoral Act.

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Ekwunife blasts Soludo, says government House not his birthright

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Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Uche Ekwunife has warned Governor Soludo to get ready to hand over power, insisting that the government house is not his birthright.

Senator Ekwunife stated this while addressing party faithful in her country home in Nri, Anaocha Council area of the state where she described the administration of the governor as an abysmal failure in all round development and security of lives and property.

“Soludo and I are not at war, what is happening is that what he is currently holding is what we want. The constitution of Nigeria made it four year term for every elected governor. And if you do well, you will be re-elected but in the case of Soludo, it is obvious he has lost touch with governance and that is why APC has presented veritable platform for the people of the state to reclaim their state from APGA misrule.

“The governor, rather than concentrate on positive governance, has been going about crying like a baby, calling my name up and down and we are not losing sleep over his rantings. He has not done well to deserve a second term and that is why the state seems to be on autopilot for four years.

“I make bold to say that Soludo was smart to have hurriedly parked into the uncompleted Anambra State government House, which goes to tell his state of panicky mood of losing this election which is going to happen. But he has forgotten that government is a continuum and when one stops, another person takes over and that is why we presented a veritable alternative to Ndi Anambra.”

Also speaking during the programme, the former Minister of State, Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh described the governorship election in the state as very vital in order to connect the state to the mainstream politics of Nigeria and called for total and massive votes for the party and her candidates, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife.

Ikoh said the time for the party to clinch Anambra State has come with the massive mobilization of stakeholders across the state and county in general to support the party and ensure smooth victory in the November 8 governorship election.

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