The crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership has deepened following a bitter clash between two factions over the interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal ruling. The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, on Friday, delivered a pivotal decision that has sparked intense disagreement within the party.
The ruling stemmed from an appeal by the APC’s National Executive Committee challenging a High Court injunction that had blocked the party from holding congresses in Rivers State. The appellate court overturned the previous injunction, dismissing the suit filed by Peter Ohochukwu, who represented the dissolved state working committee led by Emeka Beke
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal emphasized that political parties’ internal affairs and leadership are beyond the scope of judicial intervention. This ruling was seen by many as a significant moment for the party, but it also set the stage for further infighting.
The faction loyal to Chief Tony Okocha swiftly hailed the judgment as a victory, claiming it validates their leadership in the state. Publicity Secretary of Okocha’s camp, Chibike Ikenga, issued a statement proclaiming that the ruling reaffirmed Okocha as the legitimate chairman of APC in Rivers State.
However, this interpretation has been fiercely contested by the opposing faction led by Emeka Beke. The Beke faction dismissed the Okocha camp’s claims as misleading and unfounded. In a counter-statement, their Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, clarified that the Court of Appeal’s ruling only pertained to an interim appeal and did not negate the High Court decision of August 12, 2024, which recognized Beke’s leadership.
Nwauju further stressed that the judgment did not invalidate Beke’s executive tenure, which runs until October 21, 2025. As the battle for leadership intensifies, the conflicting interpretations of the court’s decision are only deepening divisions within the Rivers APC.
Both factions are now locked in a bitter struggle to secure legitimacy, with each side claiming the ruling as an endorsement of their authority. The party’s future in the state now hinges on how the leadership crisis plays out in the coming months.
