The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday defied two court orders and organised congresses it elected Chief Tony Okocha as the new substantive chairman of the party in the state.
Okocha, who was two- time Caretaker Committee (CTC) chairman of the APC in the state, emerged the party chairman through consensus votes by party delegates from the 23 local government areas of the state, during the APC state congress held at the party’s secretariat on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
The APC in the state had been in crisis for about one year following a leadership tussle.
While Emeka Beke-led executive of the party insisted that their tenure had not ended, the Okocha-led CTC faction said they were the authentic leadership, hence had the support of the national leadership of the party in Abuja.
It would be recalled that in August, a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, presided by Justice Sika Aprioku, sacked the CTC of APC in the state led by Okocha.
Members of the party, Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye and others, had filed the suit seeking that Beke’s leadership of the party be reinstated after they were suspended and subsequently removed from office by the national leadership of APC.
In his ruling, Aprioku issued a perpetual injunction against the Okocha-led CTC, restraining them from taking further steps that would distract the Beke-led executive till the expiration of their four years’ tenure.
The court also restrained the national leadership of the APC from further recognising the Okocha-led executive.
The court ordered the party to recognise the Beke-led executive as authentic executive of the party till their four years’ tenure expired.
The judge also held that the national leadership of APC disobeyed their own constitution by not giving fair hearing to elected party executives.
Also, at the notice of the party congresses in the state, a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had issued an ex parte order restraining the APC and its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, from conducting elective congresses for the Rivers State APC, pending the determination of the issue before the court.
The presiding judge, Justice G.V. Obomanu, agreed on the motion filed by aggrieved members of the party, including Okwu Joebrown-Ndike, Peace Oganu, and Samuel Uchegbule, who claimed that they were denied nomination forms, despite making payments and as authentic members of the party.
The court however, issued an interim injunction, ordering that the congresses should not continue, until the motion on notice has been heard and determined.
The matter was adjourned till December 3, 2024 for hearing.
Despite the orders, the congresses were held with the supervision of the national leadership of the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), both from the state and national.
The Chairman of the electoral committee for the state congress, Victor Giadom, while speaking, commended the supporters of the party who stood their ground for the growth of the party.
Giadom lauded the leaders of the party and INEC for their full participation in the congress.
“Let me thank our leaders; we are very grateful to all of you. This party remains grateful to all of you and fairness, equity will be brought to play in our party going forward.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank the INEC for being a witness to these congress that we elected credible leaders that will pilot the affairs of this party in the next four years”, Giadom added.
In his acceptance speech, Okocha promised that his leadership would work hard to take over the government of the state in 2027, expressing the belief that President Bola Tinubu will be returned for a second tenure following his administration’s success in the country.
Okocha stated: “I want to assure you – those days that APC could not conduct and contest elections are over. APC will contest and win election and be in charge of government in Rivers State.
“Our business is to ensure we root out a rudderless government in Rivers State today. By the year 2027, God keeping us alive, we will have elections in Rivers State and our target is to ensure that APC takes the lead of governance from Assembly, Chairmen of Councils, House of Representatives, governor and the return of the hero of our time, President Bola Tinubu”.
Blessing Ibunge
Follow us on:
