By Emeka Amaefula
TONY OKOCHA LED RIVERS STATE EXECUTIVE DECLARED ILLEGAL, AS COURT VOIDS CONGRESSES
The December 14th, 2024 inaugurated Rivers state Chapter of All Progressives Congress APC led by Chief Tony Okocha on Friday 20th December 2024 has been declared null and void by Hon. Justice V. Obomanu of Rivers State High Court stitting at Port Harcout judicial division. By the Court Ruling all the wards, Local Government Areas and state Congresses held on defiance of Court Interim injunction Order that produced Chief Tony Okocha’s led state Working Committee SWC has been declared null and void and of no effect.
The lingering Court matter was first filed by Chief Emeka Beke the authentic Rivers state APC chapter elected Chairman who filed a Contempt of Court proceeding against Chief Tony Okocha and other APC national officers. But APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on 14th of December, 2024 in the company of 16 other National executive members visited Rivers state where he inaugurated Rivers state APC chapter executives led by Chief Tony Okocha.
It should be recalled that Hon. Justice V. Obomanu after listening to all the Counsels’ presentations abd submissions nullified the congresses of the party citing Contempt if Court. By this ruling, it has abrogated rendered all Wards, LGAs and State Congresses that produced Chief Tony Okocha led Executive to be invalid, null and void.
However, Hon. Chibike Ikenga, the Publicity Secretary of Chief Tony Okocha led SWC in a quick response to the Court ruling on Friday 20th of December, 2024 Press statement he issued stated that ” The APC remains undaunted by the vexatious use of Rivers state High Court against its activities. It will continue to provide constructive opposition and criticism against the maladministration and intimidation of the opposition party by Gov. Fubara led government in Ricrs state.
” We urge all APC members to remain calm and have faith in the judiciary especially ss he Rivers state High Court is not the final court on the matter but a court of first instance.
“We further enjoin all our party members to see this latest action by willing tools working hand in- gloves with our detractors to frustrate our party will be very momentary and will vitiated sooner than later by the superior courts.”.
Hon. Ikenga went down memory lane to recount that in July 2024 APC announced Congresses in Rivers state to be held in October 2024, that some persons went to court with Hon. Justice G. Ollor whp granted Interim Order of ex Parte injunction on 22nd of August, 2024 vide Suit no. PHC/3699/CS/2024 in the case of Peter Ohochukwu V His Excellency, Abdullahi Ganduje and others. That the Court restrained APC from holding Congresses.
He stated that APC rescheduled its congresses to November 2024 in defiance to the interim Orders of Rivers State Hogh Court.
That APC appealed to the Court of Appeal un suit no: CA/PH/371/2024 in the case of Hos Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje V Peter Ohochukwu, challenging the jurisdiction of Rivers stste High Court to dabble in internal affairs of a political party and to make the Interim Order. Hon. Imenga ststed that the Court of Appeal fixed hearing date to February 2025.
Whereas on 15th of November,2024 Cpurt of Appeal set aside the Order of interim injunction restraining the APC from holding its congresses. A sotuation he said gave way to APC to conduct its Wards, LGAs and State congresses on 16th of November,2024.
Howevet three aggrieved members of the party who were denied participation in the congressess after obtaining relevant forms paid for filed a court case brfore Hon. Justice V. Obomanu of Rivers state High Court on 19th 0f Nocember 2024 as they seek for interom injunction in the suit no. PHC/3859/CS/2024 with Joebrown Ndike V APC and Others. The Rivers state High Court graciously granted a fresh Order of Interim injunction ex Parte against the same Congresses of APC in Rivers state.
Chief Tiby Okocha led APC faction is allegedly claiming through a Press statement by Hon. Ikenga that the Court processes order of Interim injunction were not served on the defendants ” a Bailiff who falsely stated that he obtained the Interim Order of Court from Port Harcourt on 22/11/2024 that he personnally traveled to Abuja to serve the process at about 2:30pm and returned to Port Harcourt by 4pm on the same day to depose to an Affidavit of Service.”, he said.
Hon. Ikenga admitted that the Defendants’ Counter Affidavit that they were not served were filed as the process was not displayed on the gate of APC national headquarters at Abuja. Thus the APC filed on 25/11/2024 suit no. CA/PH/523/2024 APC V Ndike and others challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers state High Court to entertain case. As the application by APC is still pending before the Court of Appeal for stay of Execution of the Order by Hon. Justice V. Obomanu.
The political crises rocking Rivers state APC now has entered another stage just like in 2019 when Supreme Court in a Consent judgment removed APC in Rivers state from being in the ballot oapers for Rivers state House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship elections…as a result of denial of participation in wards, LGAs and state held congresses with one Mr. Umar and others challenging their exclusion up to Supreme Court where they were granted victory with APC being removed from the 2019 ballot papers
——Emeka Amaefula——+234(0)8111813069——-