APC rejects court judgement on Rivers chapter

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday rejected the court ruling that reinstated the dissolved Chief Emeke Beke-led Executive Committee in Rivers State.

The party’s Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Festus Fuanter, disclosed this to journalists following the NWC closed-door meeting in Abuja.

Justice Sika Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, on Monday sacked Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee and reinstated Beke as the APC chairman in the state.

He also nullified the dissolution of the Beke-led committee and sent packing Okocha and his caretaker committee members.

Fuanter accused Beke who was previously removed by another court of abusing the court processes.

He said: “We wish to categorically state and inform the public that the APC is not bound by the judgment delivered by the Rivers High Court in Suit No: PHC 3592 CS. 2023, which reinstated the dissolved State Executive Committee.

READ ALSO: Court declares seat of 25 Rivers Assembly members who decamped to APC vacant

“The claimant in the said case sued the national chairman and national secretary, but not the party itself. You cannot sue an agent of a disclosed principal.

“Furthermore, there is a valid and subsisting court judgment against Chief Emeka Beke and Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, former Rivers APC Chairman, and Legal Adviser, respectively, wherein they were removed from office.

The APC chieftain stressed that a court judgment or order was not binding on a person or organisation that was not a party to the suit.

He added: “In light of this, the party only recognised its Tony Okocha-led Rivers Caretaker Committee established to oversee its affairs in the state.”

He said the party’s NWC had scheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for September 12, subject to President Bola Tinubu’s approval.

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