THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that it is not bound by the judgment of the Rivers High Court reinstating its dissolved Chief Emeke Beke-led State Executive Committee (SEC), saying it was not a party to the suit.
Deputy National Secretary of the part, Mr. Festus Fuanter, said while speaking to journalists on Thursday, August 15, in Abuja, following the National Working Committee (NWC) closed-door meeting, in reaction to the judgment that also dismissed the Chief Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee.
Fuanter explained that Beke had previously been removed by another court and had filed an appeal, but chose not to await its outcome and instead engaged in an abuse of court processes.
He stated: “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.
“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.”
He added that a court judgment, ruling or order was not binding on a person or organisation that was not a party to the suit, stressing that, in light of this, the party only recognises the Okocha-led caretaker committee established to oversee its affairs in the state.
He confirmed that the NWC had scheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for September 12, subject to the approval of President Bola Tinubu, who is the party’s national leader, even as the NWC discussed the issue and agreed that the party’s Caucus would meet on September 11 ahead of its NEC meeting.
