The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed strong opposition to the removal of the Tony Okocha-led caretaker committee by a Rivers State court, arguing that the court lacks the authority to take such action, News About Nigeria reports.
In an interview with Punch on Tuesday, Chibuike Ikenga, spokesman of the Rivers APC Caretaker Committee, dismissed the court’s decision as futile, citing a Supreme Court ruling that, according to him, governs internal party matters.
Ikenga criticised the court’s judgement, alleging it was influenced by political motives, particularly from the Rivers State government.
“Therefore, what we have seen was also a choreographed judgement, in the sense that the judge and a couple of his colleagues are dancing to the tune of the Rivers State government. The judgement itself is a clear indication of those coalitions you have seen from haters of President Bola Tinubu and the move to take him out of power after losing the election serially in Rivers State.”
He stated that the party is undeterred and will appeal the decision, noting that the APC had empowered the committee to continue its functions as the ruling was seen as interfering with the party’s internal affairs.
The controversy arose after a Rivers State High Court voided the appointment of the seven-member caretaker committee led by Tony Okocha, declaring it unlawful and reinstating the Emeka Beke-led executive as the legitimate leadership of the APC in Rivers State.
The court issued a permanent injunction against the Okocha-led committee, ordering the APC’s national leadership to recognise the Beke-led executive and criticising the actions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in supporting the dissolution.
The court also awarded N300,000 in costs to the Beke-led executive and dismissed objections raised by the defendants, affirming that the appointment of the Okocha-led caretaker committee was null and void.
