Rivers crisis: Okocha-led APC defies court order, holds state congress
The Tony Okocha-led faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, has proceeded with its state congress, disregarding a court order restricting the party’s national leadership from conducting any congresses in the state.
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had issued an ex parte order restraining APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party from holding elective congresses for the Rivers State chapter without including the claimants in a pending legal case.
The interim injunction also barred the defendants from conducting the scheduled congresses on November 23 and 30, 2024, or any other date, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The suit was filed by Okwu Joebrown-Ndike, Peace Oganu, and Samuel Uchegbule, who alleged exclusion despite paying for nomination forms to contest in the congresses.
Despite the legal directive, the Okocha-led faction proceeded with the congresses.
As at the time of filing this report, the state congress is holding at the factional secretariat on the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
The Okocha-led CTC has also been dissolved by the Chairman Congress Planning Committee, to pave the way for new leadership elections.
Notable party members in attendance include South-South National Vice Chairman Chief Victor Giadom, Chidi Wihioka, Ephraim Nwuzi, Magnus Abe, Tony Okocha, and other members of the caretaker committee that had been sacked by the court.
The APC leadership in Rivers State remains mired in litigation.
The duly elected executive led by Chief Emeka Beke is loyal to former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while the Okocha faction aligns with former Governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The Beke-led executive’s tenure is slated to end in 2025.
