The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, on Friday, upheld the judgement of the Rivers State High Court nullifying the All Progressives Congress (APC) Congresses that produced Chief Tony Okocha and other members of his executive council in the state.
The sacked Chairman and his exco are allies of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Daily Trust recalls that Justice Obomanu of the Rivers State High Court had on December 20 2024, nullified the Congresses conducted in Rivers state by the APC which purportedly produced Tony Okocha & Co.
The sacked exco later filed a suit at the Appeal Court to upturn Justice Obomanu’s judgement.
Delivering the judgement on Friday in Port Harcourt, Justice Elfreida Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, upheld the decision of the Rivers State High Court nullifying the Congresses.
Daily Trust gathered that with the judgement, all decisions and representations made by the Chief Tony Okocha led exco on behalf of the APC, between December 20 2024 till date, is null, void and of no effect.
Also, the candidates produced by the party ahead of the general election in the state may face the risk of being disqualified.
Reacting to the judgement, the Tony Okocha led exco in the state, said there is no threat to the status of the exco pending full trial.
The state Publicity Secretary of APC, Chibike Ikenga, in a statement on Saturday, said the Court of Appeal only gave interlocutory appeal and sent the matter back to the Court of first instance for full trial.
He said: “The Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State are aware of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt dated Friday, 29th May, 2026 in an Interlocutory Appeal and Matter sent back to the Court of first instance for full trial in(APPEAL NO: CA/PH/523/2024: APC & ANOR. V OKWU JOEBROWN NDIKE filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the jurisdiction of the High court directing the parties to ‘maintain status quo’ and also challenging the competence of the suit before the Rivers State High Court.
“There is no threat to the status of the EXCO pending full trial. Our Lawyers will study the full judgment and advise on the next step.
“We advise party faithful to remain calm and not panic by the deliberate misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the judgement by those who lack in-depth knowledge of what transpired in the Court.”
