Court of Appeal Affirms Nullification of Rivers APC Congresses
The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, on Friday delivered judgment affirming the decision of the Rivers State High Court which had earlier nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses that purportedly produced Chief Tony Okocha and members of his executive council in Rivers State.Chief Okocha and his executive council, known allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had approached the appellate court seeking to overturn the ruling of Justice Obomanu of the Rivers State High Court. Justice Obomanu, on 20 December 2024, held that the congresses conducted by the APC in Rivers State were invalid and incapable of producing a lawful executive.
Delivering judgment, Justice Elfreida Oluwayemisi Williams‑Dawodu upheld the High Court’s decision, thereby rendering null and void all actions, decisions, and representations made by the Okocha‑led executive from 20 December 2024 to date. Legal observers note that this outcome raises significant questions regarding the validity of candidates purportedly sponsored by the faction ahead of the general elections, with possible disqualification looming.
In reaction, the Okocha‑led faction maintained that the ruling poses no immediate threat to its status, insisting that the matter remains subject to full trial. The APC State Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, clarified in a statement that the Court of Appeal’s pronouncement was interlocutory in nature, remitting the matter back to the High Court for substantive trial. He emphasized that the appellate court did not conclusively determine the competence of the suit or the jurisdictional challenge raised by the APC, but directed parties to maintain the status quo pending trial.
Ikenga assured party members that the leadership would study the judgment carefully and take appropriate legal steps, urging calm and caution against misrepresentation of the ruling by those without a proper grasp of the proceedings.
