Court Sacks APC Caretaker Committee In Rivers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has nullified the appointment of a caretaker committee for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State by the national leadership of the party.

The court, presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, also reinstated the Chief Emeka Beke-led elected executives of the party in the state.

The Beke-led APC at the state, local government and wards levels had filed the suit against the party‘s national executive and the state‘s seven-man Caretaker Committee of APC.

However, responding to the court judgement, APC caretaker committee chairman in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, said the party will approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the lower court‘s decision.
Okocha said: „I invited you this afternoon to let you understand our position on the judgement of Justice Sika Aprioku in a matter instituted by former secretary of the party, Sam Etetegwung, against the national chairman of the APC, which the caretaker committee of APC in Rivers State was also joined.

“I want to let you know that it was not a surprise to us that the judge took a voyage to partition. In law and what we know about the judiciary, when a case of bias is raised against a trial judge before the matter commences, he recuses himself.

“They should know that we will meet in the Philippines. We are not keeping them, so we will challenge whatever they have done at the Court of Appeal. This is a court of first instance. After that, they or we return to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court will decide.“