APC’s Fate Hangs, As Court of Appeal Affirms Nullification Of Rivers State 2024  Congresses

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The All Progressive Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter has urged members and supporters to remain calm and not to  panic in the face of a  Court of Appeal judgment on the leadership tussle in the party.

The source reports that the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, had, on Friday ,May 29 2026, affirmed the earlier nullification of the State Congresses of the party which enthroned the Chief Tony Okocha-led State Working Committee, SWC.

A Rivers State High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Obomanu, had, on December 20, 2024, declared null and void, and of no effect, the APC Congresses held in Rivers state, that produced Chief Okocha, and others loyal to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike as members of the SWC of the APC.

But dissatisfied with the trial court’s decision , Okocha and the SWC approached the Appallate court seeking a reversal.

However, ruling on the appeal on Friday, Hon. Justice Elfreida Oluwayemesi Williams-Dawod, upheld the trial court’s verdict nullifying the said Congresses .

Consequently, there are  widespread perceptions  that the Appallate Court’s judgment may negatively impact the fortune of the APC in State ,as the actions taken and activities carried out by the sacked officials, including nomination of candidates for the 2027 polls may be imperiled.

The Source further reports that already, there are growing levels of apprehension and anxiety among candidates , members and supporters of the Rivers State APC over the Court’s pronouncement.

But downplaying the growing tension, the Rivers State, APC, spokesperson, Chibuike Ikenga, in a statement on Saturday, May 30, 2026, blamed the apprehension on the misinterpretation of the Court of Appeal verdict by some vested interests.

According to him, contrary to the perception in some quarters, the Appallate Court only issued an interlocutory appeal, while sending the matter back to the trial Court for a full trial.

“The leadership of the All Progressive Congress Rivers sta3te is aware of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division l,dated Friday 29th May, 2026, in an interlocutory Appeal and Matter sent back to the Court of first instance for full trial ( Appeal No: CA/PH/523/2024: APC &ANOR.V Okwu JoeBrown Ndike filed by the All Progressive Congress APC challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court directing the parties to maintain status quo and, also, challenge 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 advice on the next step”, Ikenga stated.

The statement blamed the apprehension on what it described as a deliberate  “misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the judgment by those who lack in-depth knowledge of what transpired in the court.