The Court of Appeal has delivered a significant judgment, affirming a previous high court order that nullified the ward, local government, and state congresses conducted by the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision invalidates the congresses that had elected executives loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led by Tony Okocha.
In response to the lower court’s ex parte order that prevented the party from holding its congresses in Rivers State, Okocha sought redress at the appellate level. He argued that the high court lacked the jurisdictional authority to issue such an order, challenging its competency in the matter.
However, the appeal was decisively dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Justice Elfreida Williams-Dawodu, in delivering the lead judgment, affirmed the high court’s jurisdiction to issue the ex parte order and ruled that Okocha’s appeal lacked merit, effectively striking it out.
Despite the legal setback, Ikenga Chibike, the Publicity Secretary of the Tony Okocha-led executive committee, sought to downplay any immediate impact on the party’s internal leadership. He reassured party members that the status of the current executive remains intact pending the full hearing and determination of the substantive case. He also indicated that the party’s legal team would thoroughly review the full judgment to determine the next course of action.