A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sacked the seven-man caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, led by Tony Okocha, appointed by the National Working Committee of the APC.
Justice Sika Apriok on Monday ruled in a suit filed by Sam Sam Etetegungu, Banners Ezemoye, Ezekiel Ubom and others on behalf of the democratically elected APC executive in the state, restoring the Emeka Beke-led executive to the rightful leadership of the party in Rivers State.
The court issued a permanent injunction restraining the Okocha-led caretaker committee from interfering with the Beke-led administration until the end of its four-year term.
The court also directed the APC national leadership to restrain itself from recognising the Okocha-led committee and recognise the Beke-led executive as the legitimate leadership of the party until the expiry of its term.
The court also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for upholding the dissolution of democratically elected APC executives, warning that party leaders must abide by their constitution and avoid reckless behaviour.
Justice Apliok found that the APC National Working Committee had failed to justify its actions, which were in violation of both the party and the Nigerian constitution.
As a result, the court ordered the Beke-led APC executive to pay costs of 300,000 naira.
The judge rejected the defendant’s preliminary objections as to validity and an application by an additional party to join the proceedings.
Justice Aplioku ruled that the appointment of the seven-man caretaker committee led by Chief Tony Okocha was invalid and without legal basis, maintaining that the members of the committee have no legal existence.