By Ismail Shuaib
ABUJA: The All Progressives Congress APC has officially rejected the claim by Mr Emeka Beke that he is the party’s chairman in Rivers State.
The party has therefore instructed the public to disregard his assertions, affirming that Chief Tony Okocha remains the legitimate state chairman.
Mr Beke, who leads a faction loyal to former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, recently petitioned the APC national secretariat, seeking recognition and the suspension of the upcoming council primary elections in the state.
He and his factional state secretary, Sam Sam Etetegwung, urged the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to recognize their executive committee.
However, in a statement Saturday in Abuja,bAPC spokesperson, Felix Morka clarified the party’s stance.
He said; “The attention of the All Progressives Congress APC has been drawn to media reports of a claim by Mr Emeka Beke to the Chairmanship of the Rivers state chapter of our Party.
“We wish to clarify, for the record, that Chief Tony Okocha is, and remains, the Chairman of the Rivers state chapter of our Party.”
The statement concluded by urging members and the public to “disregard the said reports or reference to Mr Beke as State Chairman of Rivers APC as false and misleading.”
Earlier in the week, Beke had told journalists at the party’s n ational secretariat that he is the authentic chairman based on a court judgment.
“In a well considered judgement, the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Division presided over by the Hon. Justice S. H. Aprioku set aside the purported dissolution of our client (the Rivers State Executive Committee of the Party) and found that the said State Executive Committee led by Chief Emeka Beke is the valid and subsisting leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State until October, 2025 when its tenure will statutorily elapse.
“We annex a copy of the said Judgement as well as Judgement Order for your record and guidance”, he had said.
Beke added that the judgment is “still subsisting and binding, having not been set aside by any Court of competent appellate jurisdiction.”
He also brought to the National Chairman’s attention another judgment, stating, “we are aware of the decision of the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress extending the tenure of office of all elected State Executive Committees to December, 2025. we welcome the said decision.”
He continued; “We wish to respectfully bring to your notice the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Division, delivered by Hon Justice S.H. Aprioku, which affirmed the subsistence of the tenure of the Chief Emeka Beke led Executive Committee of APC, Rivers State and the judgment of Hon. Justice Obomanu of the High Court of Justice, Rivers State in Suit No. PHC/3859/CS/2024-Okwu Joebrown Ndike & Ors. v. All Progressives Congress & Anor. which invalidated the purported election of Chief Tony Okocha led executive committee of APC, Rivers State.
“Please, find attached the Judgment and Judgment Order in Suit No. PHC/3859/CS/2024-Okwu Joebrown Ndike & Ors. v. All Progressives Congress & Anor.”
Beke’s petition also congratulated the new national chairman. “We are members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter and write in that capacity.
“May we hereby extend our warmest congratulations to you on your well deserved emergence as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress. We believe that your emergence as National Chairman could not have come at a better moment than this.”
He referenced a past legal challenge, noting, “We hereby bring to your attention the fact that following the attempt to unlawfully dissolve the Rivers State leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress sometime in 2023, we, through the State Secretary, Sam Sam Etetegwung, filed Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (Between Sam Sam Etetegwung Vs. His Excellency, Abdullahi Ganduje & Ors.), challenging the validity and propriety of the said dissolution at the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt Division.”
