A RIVERS State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has dismissed the seven-member Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, appointed by its National Working Committee (NWC) and headed by Chief Tony Okocha, restraining the party’s national leadership from recognising it, but acknowledge the Emeka Beke-led executive as the authentic leadership until the expiration of four-year term.
Justice Sika Aprioku, while ruling on Monday, August 12, in a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom and others, on behalf of the democratically elected APC executive in the state, reinstated the Beke-led executive as the legitimate leadership of the party in Rivers State.
The court issued a perpetual injunction against the Okocha-led caretaker committee, prohibiting them from interfering with the Beke-led executive until the end of their four-year term.
In addition, the court also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for supporting the dissolution of the democratically-elected APC executives, warning that leaders of political parties must adhere to their own constitutions and avoid acting recklessly.
Justice Aprioku held that the APC NWC failed to justify its actions, which were deemed in violation of both the party’s and Nigeria’s constitutions.
The court awarded N300,000 costs in favour of the Beke-led APC executive.
The Judge dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defendants regarding the justification and the application for joinder by additional parties.
Justice Aprioku had earlier ruled the appointment of the seven-member caretaker committee null and void, with no legal standing, asserting that the committee members had no legal existence.
