The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed the seven-member Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, led by Tony Okocha.
The committee was appointed by the National Working Committee of the APC, but its legitimacy has been a subject of controversy.
Justice Sika Aprioku, in a ruling on Monday, reinstated the democratically elected APC executive in the state, led by Emeka Beke, as the legitimate leadership of the party in Rivers State. The ruling was in response to a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom, and others on behalf of the elected executive.
The court’s decision is a significant development in the ongoing power struggle within the APC in Rivers State. The party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with different factions vying for control.
The National Working Committee’s appointment of a caretaker committee had been seen as an attempt to usurp the authority of the democratically elected executive.
The plaintiffs had argued that the caretaker committee was illegal and unconstitutional, as it was not recognized by the party’s constitution. They also claimed that the committee’s appointment was a deliberate attempt to undermine the elected executive and create chaos within the party.
In his ruling, Justice Aprioku upheld the plaintiffs’ arguments, declaring the caretaker committee null and void. He also restrained the APC from recognizing or dealing with the committee, and ordered the party to recognize the Emeka Beke-led executive as the legitimate leadership in Rivers State.
