Reiterates: Justice Lifu’s Judgement Does not Represent Party’s Interest.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has forwarded a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC where it clearly notified the commission on its stand in the October 5 Local Government Council Election In the state.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission headed by Justice Adolphus Enebeli Rtd.had scheduled election into the twenty three local government councils of the state for Saturday,5th October ,2024.in line with the Supreme Courts ruling ordering States including Rivers State to conduct local government elections within three months.
Prior to the Apex court’s decision, the state government had appointed caretaker committees to oversee the running of the councils.
But a judgement of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice Peter Lifu acting on a suit filed by a fractional leader of the APC,Chief Tony Okocha restrained INEC from providing the RSIEC with the 2023 Voters register to enable the smooth conduct of the election.
Justice Lifu’s Judgement came weeks after a Rivers High Court presided over by j Justice I.P.C Igwe in a suit between the Action Peoples Party APP and the RSIEC ordered the RSIEC to proceed with the October 5 Local Government election.
In its reaction on Tuesday, the APC led by Chief Emeka Beke told INEC as the duly recognised body by law, that the judgement of Justice Lifu does not represent the interest of the party in the state.
In a 10- paragraph statement, personally signed by Chief Emeka Beke and Hon. Sam Sam Etetegwung, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the party notified INEC that it totally supports the decision to hold the LG elections on October 5,2024 having fielded candidates for the various positions.
The party’s letter in full:
The Chairman,
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
INEC Headquarters,
436 Zambezi Crescent,
Maitama,
Abuja, FCT.
Sir,
RE: POSITION OF THE RIVERS STATE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS ON THE FORTHCOMING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION IN RIVERS STATE VIZ-A-VIZ THE JUDGEMENT IN SUIT NO.
FHC/ABJ/987/2024.
The above subject matter refers.
We write in our capacity as the duly elected, recognized and valid Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter. In view of the local government elections scheduled to hold on the 5th of October, 2024 and the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division presided over by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 between All Progressives Congress and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it has become imperative that we write this letter, stating clearly the position of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
Recall that following an attempt by some members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress to displace the duly elected State Executive Committee of the
All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter by purporting to have dissolved the Executive Committee and replaced same with a caretaker committee led by one Chief Tony Okocha, the elected State Executive Committee approached the High Court of Rivers State in Suit No.
PHC/3592/CS/2023 (between Sam Sam Etetegwung and Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors) and Suit No. PCH/3735/CS/2023 (between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors and All Progressives Congress & Ors). In a considered judgement, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku affirmed the validity and subsistence of our Executive Committee until 2025. The Court also set aside the purported caretaker committee of Chief Tony Okocha and declared that the duly elected State Executive Committee (as led by Chief Emeka Beke) is the authentic leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. We annex certified the copies of the Judgement Orders for your record and action as ANNEXURES APC 1 & 2, respectively.
We are aware that the Federal High Court per Hon. Justice Peter Lifu delivered a judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024. We however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha who filed that suit purportedly as “Chairman, Caretaker Committee” of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress. He is neither the Chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever. He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the Party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of River State per Hon Justice I.P.C Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgement compelling the Rivers State Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice. That judgement, being first in time to the latter judgement in FHC /ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence. As we all know, when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails. We annex certified true copy of the Judgement Order for your record and action as ANNEXURE APC 3.
May we state also, that under the constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issuesrelating to the participation in the local government elections are within the authority of the State Executive Committee and so, it is our Executive Committee as led by Chief Emeka Beke that determines whether and how the Rivers State Chapter of the All progressives Congress is to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
What is more, the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already ordered the Government of Rivers State to conduct local government elections in Rivers State within three months of judgement. The Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election.
It is on the above premise, that we write to notify you and your commission that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress totally supports the holding of the local government elections in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024. The Party is participating in the elections and have indeed submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.
We further reiterate and re-emphasize that the judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 does not represent the interest of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress and we distance ourselves from it.
The above is for your information and action.
Accept the assurances of our esteemed regards.
Yours Faithfully,
CHIEF EMEKA BEKE
Chairman, APC Rivers State
Hon Sam Sam Etetegwung
State Secretary, APC Rivers State
