The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Chief Tony Okocha as the chairman in charge of the party in Rivers State, following a court judgment that sacked Emeka Beke, an ally of Governor Nyesom Wike.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC made this declaration on Thursday, after a meeting of the party.
The Rivers State High Court had on Monday sacked the caretaker committee led by Chief Tony Okocha and reinstated Emeka Beke as the chairman of the party in the state.
However, the NWC has declared that the court judgment is not binding on the party, as Beke was not a party to the suit.
According to the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Barr. Festus Fuanter, the claimant in the case sued the National Chairman and Secretary of the party, but not the party itself. Fuanter stated that the party still recognizes the caretaker committee led by Chief Tony Okocha as the legitimate administrative body in Rivers State.
Fuanter also revealed that Emeka Beke had already been removed from office by a valid and subsisting court judgment, which he has appealed.
He said, “We want to categorically state and inform the public that the position of the Party, All Progressives Congress in the judgment delivered by the Rivers High Court per. Justice §. Aprioko in Suit No: PHC 3592 CS. 2023 wherein the Court reinstated the dissolved State Executive Committee that it is not binding on the Party (APC). The claimant in the said case sued the National Chairman and Secretary of our great Party and not the Party itself and you cannot sue an agent of a disclosed principal. That a Court Judgment/Ruling/Order is not binding on a person or organization that is not a party to the suit.
“In suit no: PHC/3592/CS/2023 between Sam Sam Etetegwung Vs. H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje & 7 Ors wherein the Court reinstated the Rivers State Executive Committee earlier dissolved by APC, is not binding on APC because it was not joined as a party in the suit.
“Secondly, there is a valid and subsisting Court Judgment against Chief Emeka Beke & Iheanyichukwu Azubuike (former Rivers State APC Chairman and Legal Adviser) respectively wherein they were removed from office. The said case suit No. PHC/925/CS/2023 Omiete Efrebo & 9 Ors. Vs. Chief Emeka Beke & 2 ors., were removed from office. It is pertinent to state here that the said judgment has been appealed against by Chief Emeka Beke and it is pending before the Court of Appeal.
“In view of the above, the Party still recognizes the erstwhile Caretaker Committee set up to oversee the affairs of the Party in the State”.
The NWC also announced that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will meet on September 12, with the party’s Caucus meeting on September 11.
The meetings, the party said are subject to approval by President Bola Tinubu.
