The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized the Rivers State High Court’s decision to nullify the Tony Okocha-led caretaker committee, arguing that the court lacks the authority to take such action.
This response follows the court’s ruling, which overturned the National Working Committee’s (NWC) dissolution of the Emeka Beke-led APC executive in Rivers State. Presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, the court ruled that the NWC had no power to dissolve a duly elected state executive or establish a caretaker committee while the current executive’s tenure is still in effect.
The ruling also barred Tony Okocha, a strong ally of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the caretaker committee members from further representing themselves as APC executives in the state.
However, the caretaker committee rejected the ruling, maintaining that it contradicts an earlier Supreme Court decision.
Speaking on Tuesday, Chibuike Ikenga, spokesperson for the Rivers APC Caretaker Committee, argued that the court’s decision was influenced by the Rivers State government and vowed to appeal the judgment, insisting that the party’s internal affairs are not subject to judicial interference. He emphasized that the dissolution was due to anti-party activities, including support for PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar instead of President Bola Tinubu.