A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has nullified the ward, local government area, and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, which led to the emergence of Tony Okocha as party chairman.
Presiding Judge, Justice Godswill Ogbomanu, ruled on Friday that the congresses were invalid, citing a previous court order that had restrained the APC from proceeding with the congresses. The court also imposed a N10 million fine on the APC for defying the order.
Reacting to the ruling, the counsel for the claimants, Emenike Ebette, praised the court’s decision, describing it as a victory for justice. “Justice has been done because they stole a march against the claimants. When a matter is before the court, and the court says not to proceed, but the party goes ahead in a brazen manner, as the court found, the law must take its course,” he said.
Ebette emphasized the court’s disciplinary powers, stating, “The court granted a stay of proceedings, but it had to restore its dignity and integrity. What the court has done today is in line with the law.”
On the other hand, the counsel for the defendants, William Wobodo, stated that they would notify their clients in the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) about the ruling before deciding on their next steps.
Wobodo also noted that an appeal had already been filed at the Court of Appeal (Suit No. CA/PH/523/2024), challenging the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate on the APC’s internal matters. He referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Aguma vs. Dele Moses case, which affirmed that the internal affairs of a political party fall under the party’s jurisdiction.
