A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has ruled that the seven-member Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, led by Tony Okocha, is not valid.
On Monday, Justice Sika Aprioku ruled in favor of Sam Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom, and others, who had challenged the caretaker committee. The court reinstated the executive led by Emeka Beke as the official APC leadership in Rivers State.
The court issued a permanent order stopping the Okocha-led committee from interfering with Beke’s team until the end of their term. It also told the APC’s national leaders to recognize Beke’s team as the real APC leadership in the state.
Justice Aprioku criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for supporting the removal of the elected APC executives. The court reminded political leaders to follow their party’s rules and not act recklessly.
The court found that the APC National Working Committee did not provide valid reasons for their actions, which were against both the party’s and Nigeria’s constitutions.
As a result, the court awarded N300,000 in costs to Beke’s executive and declared the Okocha-led committee null and void, with no legal standing. The judge also dismissed objections from the defendants regarding the case.
