……Dismiss Okocha’s Illegal Claims in Fiery Statement.
In the lead-up to the much-anticipated October 5, 2024 local government elections in Rivers State, the political scene is witnessing a dramatic face-off within the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The faction loyal to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has thrown its full weight behind the elections, rejecting any attempts to thwart the process through legal maneuverings by what it called impostors.
The Amaechi-loyal APC faction, led by Chief Emeka Beke, confirmed in a comprehensive letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party has fully endorsed the upcoming elections and has already submitted the names of its candidates for various positions in the local government councils. The letter, 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,” outlines the party’s unwavering support for the poll.
The controversy arose following a court ruling obtained by a faction allegedly led by Tony Okocha, a prominent figure in Rivers State politics, claiming to represent the APC. However, the Beke-led faction was quick to dismiss Okocha as an “impostor” and someone who had no legitimate authority within the party. According to the official statement released by the Beke camp, Okocha’s faction is entirely unauthorized and not recognized by the Rivers State APC leadership.
The matter first came to a head when some members of the National Working Committee of the APC attempted to replace the duly elected State Executive Committee with a caretaker committee, allegedly headed by Tony Okocha. This led the Beke-led faction to file a legal suit in the Rivers State High Court, challenging the move. In a decisive ruling, Justice S. H. Aprioku affirmed the legitimacy of the Beke-led Executive Committee, extending its authority until 2025 and effectively dismissing any claim of leadership by the caretaker committee.
Adding more legal weight to its position, the APC leadership under Beke reminded the public of a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, presided by Justice Peter Lifu, which was later followed by a September 4, 2024 ruling by the Rivers State High Court, led by Justice I. P. C. Igwe. The court ruling clearly directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government elections as planned, citing that this ruling superseded any other legal challenges due to it being “first-in-time.” The statement stressed that in law, “when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.”
“The attempt by Tony Okocha to stop the elections is not only illegal but flies in the face of established judicial rulings,” said a fiery statement signed by Chairman Emeka Beke and State Secretary Sam Etetegwung. The party made it clear that it will participate in the elections as directed by the court, calling on INEC and the public to disregard Okocha’s claims.
Moreover, the Beke-led APC faction highlighted the Supreme Court’s earlier directive to the Rivers State Government to conduct the local government elections within three months of the court’s judgment. This order, the statement said, remains binding, and no Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to overrule the Supreme Court’s mandate. “The Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election,” the statement read.
In a no-holds-barred attack on the Okocha faction, the Beke-led APC camp accused Okocha of “rantings and antics” designed to create confusion within the party and derail the democratic process in Rivers State. “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,” the statement declared.
The Beke faction urged voters, party members, and institutions in Rivers State to fully support and participate in the October 5 elections. They reiterated that Okocha and his supporters had no standing within the party and called on INEC to ignore his legal maneuvers. “We urge 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,” the statement concluded.
As Rivers State prepares for the local council elections, the battle for supremacy within the APC is a key storyline to watch, with implications for the broader political landscape of the state. The Amaechi loyalists’ firm stance could bolster the party’s performance at the polls, while the legal tussles may continue to unfold in courtrooms.
The intense drama surrounding the leadership tussle within the APC in Rivers State reflects deeper fissures within the party that could shape future political contests both at the state and national levels. All eyes will be on Rivers come October 5, as the electorate will have the final say amidst the backdrop of legal battles and high-stakes political maneuvering .
Peoplesmind