Serback For Amaechi As APC NWC Supports Okocha-led Caretaker Committee

— Rotimi Amaechi

By Bunmi Onakan

It’s a big setback for Rotimi Ameachi camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, on Thursday as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party failed to recognised the reinstated Emeka Beke as Chairman.
Recall that a Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had on Monday affirmed Beke, a loyalist of Ameachi as the state chairman of the party.

But after it meeting on Thursday, the party NWC declared that the Chief Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee of the party in Rivers state, remained the only recognized administrative body of Rivers state chapter of APC.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the APC Deputy National Secretary, Barr. Festus Fuanter disclosed that Beke had already been sacked by another court, adding that the court judgment, which reinstated Beke was not binding on a person or organization that is not a party to the suit.

He said: “We want to categorically state and inform the public that the position of the Party, All Progressives Congress in the judgment delivered by the Rivers High Court per. Justice §. Aprioko in Suit No: PHC 3592 CS. 2023 wherein the Court reinstated the dissolved State Executive Committee that it is not binding on the Party (APC).

“The claimant in the said case sued the National Chairman and Secretary of our great Party and not the Party itself and you cannot sue an agent of a disclosed principal. That a Court Judgment/Ruling/Order is not binding on a person or organization that is not a party to the suit.

“In suit no: PHC/3592/CS/2023 between Sam Sam Etetegwung Vs. H.E. Abdullahi Ganduje & 7 Ors wherein the Court reinstated the Rivers State Executive Committee earlier dissolved by APC, is not binding on APC because it was not joined as a party in the suit.

“Secondly, there is a valid and subsisting Court Judgment against Chief Emeka Beke & Iheanyichukwu Azubuike (former Rivers State APC Chairman and Legal Adviser) respectively wherein they were removed from office. The said case suit No. PHC/925/CS/2023 Omiete Efrebo & 9 Ors. Vs. Chief Emeka Beke & 2 ors., were removed from office. It is pertinent to state here that the said judgment has been appealed against by Chief Emeka Beke and it is pending before the Court of Appeal.

“In view of the above, the Party still recognizes the erstwhile Caretaker Committee set up to oversee the affairs of the Party in the State.”