The Chief Emeka Beke-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) insisting that the Federal High Court’s judgement cannot stop the October 5 local government elections in the state.
Beke, in the letter dated October 1 and addressed to the INEC’s National Chairman, said that the suit, which the court relied on to give the orders, was filed by Chief Tony Okocha, whom he described as an unknown member of the party.
Explaining further, he said some members of the National Working Committee of the APC made an attempt to displace the duly elected State Executive Committee of the party in the state by dissolved the Executive Committee and replacing it with a caretaker committee led by one Chief Tony Okocha.
But he said: “The elected State Executive Committee approached the High Court of Rivers State. In a considered judgement, the High Court of Rivers State presided over by Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku affirmed the validity and subsistence of our Executive Committee until 2025.
“The court also set aside the purported caretaker committee of Chief Tony Okocha and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee as led by Chief Emeka Beke is the authentic leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
“We are aware that the Federal High Court per Hon. Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024. We however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Committee’ of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress. He is neither the Chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever.
“He, Chief Tony Okocha, does not also have the authority of the leadership of the Party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf”.
Beke said the party was also aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of River State presided over by Hon Justice I.P.C Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 gavw a judgement compelling the Rivers State Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
Beke said: “That judgement, being first in time to the latter judgement in FHC /ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence. As we all know, when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
“May we state also, that under the constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issues relating to the participation in the local government elections are within the authority of the State Executive Committee and so, it is our Executive Committee as led by Chief Emeka Beke that determines whether and how the Rivers State Chapter of the All progressives Congress is to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
“What is more, the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already ordered the Government of Rivers State to conduct local government elections in Rivers State within three months of judgement.
“The Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election.It is on the above premise, that we write to notify you and your commission that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress totally supports the holding of the local government elections in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024.
“The Party is participating in the elections and have indeed submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions. We further reiterate and re-emphasize that the judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 does not represent the interest of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress and we distance ourselves from it”.