The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress loyal to a former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that it supports the conduct of the local government elections in the state scheduled for October 5, 2024.
The party has also stated that it is participating in the elections and has, indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.
The party made its position known in a letter to the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Headquarters, Abuja, titled “Re: Position of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress on the forthcoming Local Government Election in Rivers State Vis-a-vis the Judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/987/2024.”
A statement signed by Chairman, APC Rivers State, Emeka Beke, and State Secretary, APC Rivers State, Sam Etetegwung, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, recalled that following an attempt by some members of the National Working Committee of the APC to displace the duly elected State Executive Committee by purporting to have dissolved the Executive Committee and replaced same with a caretaker committee led by Chief Tony Okocha, the elected State Executive Committee approached the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No.
PHC/3592/CS/2023 (between Sam Sam Etetegwung and Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors), and Suit No. PCH/3735/CS/2023 (between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors and All Progressives Congress & Ors).
The statement noted that in a judgment, the High Court of Rivers State, presided by Justice S. H. Aprioku, affirmed the validity and subsistence of the Beke-led Executive Committee until 2025.
It further added that the court also set aside the purported caretaker committee of Tony Okocha and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee (as led by Chief Emeka Beke) is the authentic leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
The statement also stated that the party was aware that the Federal High Court presided by Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024.
It further stated that it is equally aware that on September 4, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State presided by Justice I. P. C. Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had given a judgment compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to proceed with the local government election scheduled for October 5, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
It noted that the judgment, being first-in-time to the latter judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence, cognisance of the fact that when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
The statement read, “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Committee’ of the All Progressives
Congress, Rivers State Chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
“He is neither the Chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever. He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgement compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
“That judgment, being first-in-time to the latter judgement in FHC /ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence. As we all know, when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
“Under the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issues relating to the participation in the local government elections are within the authority of the State Executive Committee, and so, it is the Executive Committee as led by himself (Chief Emeka Beke) that determines whether and how the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress is to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
“What matters is that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already ordered the Government of Rivers State to conduct Local Government Elections in Rivers State within three months of the judgement. Hence, the Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election,” the statement added.
It continued, “It is on the above premise that we write to notify you and your commission that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress totally supports the holding of the local government elections in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024. The party is participating in the elections and have, indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.”
The statement further reiterated that the judgment in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 does not represent the interest of the Rivers State Chapter of the APC and accordingly distanced itself from the suit and judgment.
It further urged the public and institutions to discount the rantings and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts and fully participate in the October 5 local government election in the state.
