- Okocha Kicks, Heads For Appeal As Court Nullifies Congresses, Reinstates Beke, Amaechi’s Loyalist
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a twist on Friday as a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt nullified the congresses of the party.
The court cancelled the congresses which produced Chief Tony Okocha, an ally of minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the state chairman of the APC following a contempt of court proceeding filed by the camp of the reinstated chairman of the party, Chief Emeka Beke.
Beke’s camp is believed to be loyal to a former governor of Rivers State and immediate past minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi.
Recall that the court had earlier issued an order stopping the conduct of the party congresses in the state, but the APC went ahead with the exercise.
Not satisfied with the development, aggrieved members of the party, who secured the order, returned to court asking for nullification of party congress.
Justice Godswill Obomanu, after listening to the presentations and submissions of the counsels, nullified the congresses of the party.
Delivering his verdict about the matter Obomanu expressed dismay that the party went ahead with the congress after a court had ordered that status quo be maintained concerning the dispute.
The court stayed further proceedings in the matter and adjourned it indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the Okocha camp said the ruling was informed by prejudice noting that Justice Obomanu was hired to do a hatchet job for the governor.
The Publicity Secretary of the Okocha led APC, Chibuike Ikenga, made this accusation saying Justice Obomanu is a kinsman of the state Governor, Siminakayi Fubara.
He stated, “It was expected, putting into consideration that Justice Obomanu hails from the same place as the Governor of Rivers State.
“There are some collaborators of the APC in Rivers State who have aligned with Governor Fubara to see that this party is suffocated. But this is not the final court. This is the court of first instance.
“Unfortunately, the Rivers State High Court under Justice Obomanu is sitting on appeal in a case that is already being addressed by the Court of Appeal.
“So, there is no problem, we are law abiding citizens with obedience to the rule of law. We are already putting our papers together to head to the appeal court to challenge and test it. “
