The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, on Friday, May 29, 2026, struck out an interlocutory appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers State High Court over the party’s internal affairs.
In its ruling, the appellate court dismissed Appeal No: CA/PH/523/2024, titled APC & Anor v. Okwu Joebrown Ndike, and ordered the parties to return to the Rivers State High Court for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The APC had approached the Court of Appeal to set aside an interim order by the High Court directing parties to maintain the status quo, arguing that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the domestic affairs of the political party.
However, the Court of Appeal held that the matter bordered on local government area and ward elections, adding that such appeals must terminate at the state High Court.
The originating suit stemmed from allegations by some party members that the APC refused to issue them nomination forms for the Local Government Area and Ward Congresses held in 2024.
Reacting to the judgment, the Rivers State APC described the appellate court’s decision as based on a wrong assumption that the appeal was directly linked to the concluded local government elections.
Also Read: http://Port Harcourt Arsenal Fans Parade Streets, Slaughter Cow To Celebrate
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, the APC clarified that the judgment has no bearing on the State Congress that produced Chief Tony Okocha and other members of the State Executive Council.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this judgment delivered has nothing to do with the State Congress wherein Chief Tony Okocha and other members of the APC State Executive Council were elected,” Ikenga stated.
He noted that a similar suit, Suit No: PHC/3805/CS/2024: Charles Enyidia & 2 Ors v. APC & Anor, which challenged the State Congress, was dismissed on March 23, 2026, by Justice Kokpan of the Rivers State High Court for lack of merit and want of jurisdiction.
The party said it has applied for a certified true copy of the Court of Appeal judgment and would be guided by its legal team on the next line of action.
Ikenga urged APC members and supporters to remain calm, warning against what he described as deliberate misrepresentation of the facts by those he claimed lacked a proper understanding of the case.
