Rivers APC crisis: Court judgment not binding – NWC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, says it is not bound by the Rivers High Court judgment that reinstated its dissolved Chief Emeke Beke-led State Executive Committee, as it was not a party to the suit.

This is contained in a statement by the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Mr Festus Fuanter, on Thursday in Abuja, after the National Working Committee, NWC, closed-door meeting.

Recall that the Rivers High Court had dismissed the Tony Okocha-led Caretaker Committee and reinstated the dissolved Beke-led executive.

According to the Deputy National Secretary, Beke had previously been removed by another court and had filed an appeal but chose not to await its outcome, instead engaging in an abuse of court processes.

“We wish to categorically state and inform the public that the APC is not bound by the judgment delivered by the Rivers High Court in Suit No: PHC 3592 CS. 2023, which reinstated the dissolved State Executive Committee.

“The claimant in the said case sued the national chairman and national secretary, but not the party itself. You cannot sue an agent of a disclosed principal.

“Furthermore, there is a valid and subsisting court judgment against Chief Emeka Beke and Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, former Rivers APC Chairman and Legal Adviser, respectively, wherein they were removed from office,” he explained.

Fuanter further stated that a court judgment or order was not binding on a person or organization that was not a party to the suit.

He stressed the party only recognized its Tony Okocha-led Rivers Caretaker Committee, established to oversee its affairs in the state.

According to him, the party’s NWC had scheduled its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for September 12, subject to the approval of President Bola Tinubu, the party’s national leader.

He added that the NWC discussed the issue and agreed that the party’s Caucus will meet on September 11 ahead of its NEC meeting.