Rivers: Setback For Wike, As Court Sacks Okocha-led APC Caretaker
…Reinstates Beke as chairman
The political influence of Nyesom Wike, who is presently the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Rivers State has further diminished as it suffered a major setback on Monday, August 12, 2024, as a High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt dismissed the seven-member Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state.
This was as the Court cautioned leaders of political parties to adhere to the constitutions of their parties and avoid acting recklessly.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had appointed Tony Okocha to chair a Caretaker Committee of the State Working Committee of the party.
Delivering his judgement in a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom, and others on behalf of the democratically elected APC-led executive in Rivers State, Justice Sika Aprioku ordered the reinstatement of the Party executive led by Emeka Beke, saying it is the legitimate leadership of the party in Rivers State.
Accordingly, Justice Aprioku issued a perpetual injunction against the Okocha-led Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State as well as prohibited them from interfering with the Beke-led executive until the end of their four-year term.
The Court also restrained the National Working Committee of the APC from recognizing the Okocha-led Caretaker Committee and directed the APC National leadership to accord the Beke-led executive recognition as the authentic leadership of the Party pending the expiration of the tenure of their office.
The trial judge held that the appointment of the Okocha-led seven-member Caretaker Committee believed to be loyal to Wike’s political interest was illegal, null and void, stressing that the committee members had no locus and legal existence.
The court also castigated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for supporting the dissolution of a democratically elected executives of the APC.
In the words of Justice Aprioku; “The APC National Working Committee failed to justify their actions, which were deemed in violation of both the Party’s and Nigeria’s constitutions. The Court accordingly, awarded N300,000 as cost in favour of the APC executive led by Beke.
