The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed its support for the Tony Okocha-led caretaker committee of the Rivers State chapter of the party.
In a decisive meeting held on Thursday, August 15, the NWC rejected a recent Port Harcourt High Court ruling that had affirmed Chief Emeka Beke as the state chairman of the APC. The NWC maintains that Okocha is the officially recognized caretaker committee chairman.
The Rivers State High Court had ruled in favor of Chief Beke, a known ally of Rotimi Amaechi, as the APC State chairman on Monday.
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During a press briefing following the NWC’s weekly meeting, Barrister Festus Fuanter, the Deputy National Secretary of APC, stated that the court’s judgment does not bind the party since it was not a party to the lawsuit. He emphasized that the NWC’s decision to support the caretaker committee remains valid.
According to the deputy scribe, “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 Justice S. 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.”
