The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, under the leadership of Chief Emeka Beke, has informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that a Federal High Court ruling will not prevent the scheduled local government elections on October 5, 2024.
In a letter dated October 1, addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Beke emphasized that the legal challenge referenced by the court was initiated by Chief Tony Okocha, whom Beke described as an illegitimate member of the party. He clarified that some members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had sought to unlawfully dissolve the State Executive Committee (SWC), which had been legitimately elected, and install a caretaker committee led by Okocha.
Beke explained: “The elected State Executive Committee approached the High Court of Rivers State. In a considered judgment, the High Court of Rivers State, presided over by Justice S. H. Aprioku, affirmed the validity and subsistence of our Executive Committee until 2025.”
He further stated that the court nullified Okocha’s purported caretaker committee, recognizing Beke’s leadership as the authentic authority within the Rivers State chapter of the APC.
Referring to the recent judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Beke stressed that Tony Okocha, who had filed the case claiming to be the “Chairman of the Caretaker Committee,” was unknown to the party’s Rivers chapter and lacked any legitimate standing or authority.
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Beke also pointed out that a separate judgment from the High Court of Rivers State on September 4, 2024, delivered by Justice I. P. C. Igwe, had directed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the scheduled local government elections. He argued that this judgment, being issued first, takes precedence over the Federal High Court ruling.
“Under the constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issues relating to the participation in local government elections fall under the authority of the State Executive Committee,” Beke stated. He affirmed that it was within his committee’s right to determine the party’s involvement in the upcoming election.
He further noted that the Supreme Court had previously mandated the Rivers State government to conduct local government elections within three months of its ruling. According to him, the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to counter the Supreme Court’s directive by halting the elections.
Beke concluded the letter by affirming the APC’s full support for the October 5 election, reiterating that the party had submitted its list of candidates and emphasizing that the ruling in Suit Number PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 did not represent the interests of the Rivers State chapter of the APC.
