The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), headed by Chief Emeka Beke, has voiced concerns about the way a recent Court of Appeal judgment has been misinterpreted. According to the party, the true meaning of the ruling is being misunderstood, and the prevailing interpretations do not accurately reflect the court’s decision.
The case in question, Appeal No. CA/PH/371/2024, involves H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje and others as appellants against Peter Ohochukwu and others. The Beke-led APC argues that current interpretations of the judgment are misleading and do not capture the actual ruling of the appellate court.
On May 2, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt made a decision on an appeal filed by the APC National Executive Committee. The appeal challenged a High Court decision that had issued an injunction, preventing the APC from holding congresses in Rivers State. The appeal court ruled that internal matters, such as the leadership of a political party, are non-justiciable, meaning that courts cannot rule on them. As a result, the court nullified the earlier High Court injunction and dismissed the suit filed by Peter Ohochukwu, who represented the dissolved state working committee of the party.
In a statement released by Chief Emeka Beke and Darlington Nwauju, the Rivers APC acknowledged the judgment but insisted that it did not change the current situation within the party. They clarified that the case was an interlocutory appeal, meaning it was only about temporary orders, and it did not affect the validity of the leadership of the APC in Rivers State under Chief Beke.
The party further emphasized that the Rivers State High Court had already validated the tenure of the Beke-led Executive Committee. On August 12, 2024, the High Court affirmed that the Beke-led committee is the legitimate leadership of the APC in the state, and this ruling remains valid until October 21, 2025. The court’s decision has not been overturned by any higher court.
The APC expressed frustration over claims by individuals or groups outside the Beke-led Executive Committee who are trying to take over the leadership of the Rivers APC. The party called such claims baseless and legally unfounded, pointing to the clear court rulings that have recognized the current leadership.
Additionally, the APC mentioned another case, Suit No: PHC/3859/CS/2024, involving individuals who had purchased nomination forms for APC congresses but were denied access to them. The individuals filed a case seeking a court order to stop the APC from holding congresses without providing the forms. The Rivers State High Court initially issued an order preventing the congresses, but despite this, the faction led by Tony Okocha went ahead with the congresses. The High Court later nullified the congresses and ordered a fine against those responsible for defying the court’s orders.
The Court of Appeal, in its May 2, 2025, ruling, confirmed that the issues related to party leadership were internal matters and not subject to judicial review. The Beke-led APC called for an end to any claims of leadership by individuals or groups without legal standing, as the courts have already recognized their leadership.
The party urged all APC members in Rivers State to remain calm, focused, and committed to democratic values and good governance. They reaffirmed their dedication to ensuring that the party’s leadership remains stable and that the principles of democracy are upheld in all party activities.
