The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State took another twist on Monday, August 12, as the State High Court in Port Harcourt dissolved the seven-member Caretaker Committee led by Chief Tony Okocha.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Sika Aprioku, came in response to a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, Barnath Ezemoye, and others on behalf of the democratically elected executive committee members of the APC in the state.
The court reinstated Chief Emeka Beke as the legitimate Chairman of the party in Rivers State.
Justice Aprioku also issued a perpetual injunction against Okocha and his caretaker committee, barring them from taking any actions that would interfere with the Beke-led executive committee until the end of their four-year tenure.
Additionally, the court ordered the national leadership of the APC to cease recognizing the Okocha-led caretaker committee and to officially acknowledge Beke as the rightful Chairman of the party in the state.
The court slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for supporting the dissolution of democratically elected executive members of the APC throughout the suit.
The judge cautioned that leaders of political parties must learn to obey their constitution and stop acting recklessly in managing their party.
Justice Aprioku held that the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC failed to prove its actions, which he ruled violated their party and the Nigerian Constitution.
The judge insisted that they relied on hearsay allegation of anti-party activities which was not demonstrated by the defendants in the suit.
The judge dismissed preliminary objections by the defendants on the issue of justification and application for joinder by a set of individuals, who had earlier sought to join the suit.
He further held that the national leadership of APC disobeyed its own constitution by not giving a fair hearing to elected party executive members and awarded N300,000 as cost in favour of the Beke-led leadership of the APC.
Justice Aprioku held that the APC could not benefit from its illegality and declared the inauguration of a seven-man caretaker committee of APC led by Okocha as null and void and of no effect.
He said the CTC chairman and his members never existed in the eyes of the law.