Court of Appeal Ruling Deepens Crisis in Rivers APC as Rival Factions Claim Victory

The leadership tussle within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified following a Court of Appeal decision that both rival factions have claimed as a legal victory. On Friday, the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal ruled on an appeal filed by the APC’s National Executive Committee, challenging a High Court injunction that had barred the party from holding congresses in the state.

The appellate court dismissed the earlier order, stating that matters relating to the internal affairs and leadership of a political party are not justiciable. The decision effectively struck out the suit initiated by Peter Ohochukwu on behalf of the dissolved APC state working committee led by Emeka Beke.

Reacting to the ruling, the faction aligned with Chief Tony Okocha hailed the judgment as a confirmation of Okocha’s chairmanship. Chibike Ikenga, spokesperson for the Okocha group, described the decision as a major legal win that reaffirmed their leadership.

In contrast, the faction loyal to Emeka Beke rejected that interpretation, calling it misleading. Darlington Nwauju, spokesman for the Beke camp, argued that the appeal court only ruled on an interlocutory matter and that it did not invalidate a separate and still-standing High Court judgment. That ruling, delivered by Justice Sika Aprioku on August 12, 2024, had affirmed the legitimacy of Beke’s tenure as APC chairman until October 21, 2025.