Rivers APC Accuses Sacked Chairman Okocha of Flouting Court Order

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused its sacked Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha, of defying the rule of law.

In a statement issued on Friday by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, the APC alleged that Okocha and his associates were engaging in the same practices they had previously condemned in others.

“Tony Okocha is trampling on the rule of law, and he knows it.

The very same thing both he and his paymaster have accused others of doing is what they are blatantly engaging in,” the statement read.

Nwauju further described Okocha and his allies as “liars masquerading as democrats” and “hypocrites,” warning that their actions undermine democratic principles.

Court Ruling Reinstates Beke-Led APC
The controversy stems from a ruling by Justice Sika Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court, which reinstated the Emeka Beke-led executive as the legitimate leadership of the APC in Rivers State.

The ruling came in a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom, and others on behalf of the democratically elected state executive.

The court issued a perpetual injunction barring the Okocha-led caretaker committee from interfering with the affairs of the Beke-led executive until the end of their four-year term.

Despite this ruling, Okocha has continued to present himself as the party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman.

Preparations for Congresses Continue
InfoStride News reports that the Okocha-led APC has begun preparations for state, local government, and ward congresses scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Reacting to these developments, Nwauju criticized Okocha’s disregard for the court ruling, highlighting that an appeal had already been filed against the judgment.

“We are aware they have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

However, their actions either reflect a lack of confidence in the judiciary or an overconfidence in the outcome of the appeal,” Nwauju said.

Warning Against Disregard for Rule of Law
Nwauju referenced a similar incident in 2018, where the APC in Rivers State conducted a congress in defiance of a court order.

He noted that the consequences of that decision were severe, as the party was unable to field candidates at any level in the 2019 general elections.

“This same APC in Rivers in 2018 went ahead against a court order to conduct a congress, and the consequences became fatal in 2019.

A party with government at the center could not field candidates at all levels in the state—the first time this has happened in Nigeria’s democratic history,” he stated.

He urged party members to refrain from participating in the congress planned by Okocha, describing it as “spitting on the judgment of Justice Sika Aprioku.”

Nwauju concluded by emphasizing that democracy is built on the foundation of the rule of law, warning that creating “new rules in the middle of the game” would lead to chaos and undermine the party’s credibility.