David Lawani, Abuja
Following the recent state high court judgement which reinstated Emeka Beke as the Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has explained that Tony Okocha Caretaker Committee still remains the authentic executive of the party in Rivers State overseeing its affairs.
Briefing newmen at the party’s national secretariat yesterday evening in Abuja shortly after its NWC meeting, the Deputy National Secretary (DNS), Festus Fuanter, who led other members of the NWC, insisted that Okocha’s caretaker committee subsists.
He adds that the efforts by Beke were an abuse of the court process.
He said: “You would recall that there was a court judgement of recent that had reinstated the Emeka Beke executive council at the detriment of the caretaker committee that was set up by the NWC.
‘’It will interest you to know that before the judgement, there was a judgement that had sacked the Emeka Beke executive committee, which gave rise to the establishment of the caretaker committee to which they had appealed.
“The matter is still pending before the court of appeal. He could not wait for his own appeal at the appellate level and went up to institute another case to which he was able to secure a judgement.
‘’As far as the NWC is concerned, this is a total abuse of the court process. And we are still waiting for his appeal at the appellate level on his sack. And subsequent upon that fact, we as an NWC, deliberated on the matter, and are reinstating the fact that we are still recognising his appeal in the first matter.’’
He added, ‘’We are still recognising Tony Okocha’s caretaker committee. And until his appeal is listened to, we, of course, had also appealed the judgement that he secured. And it is elementary law that first in time matters.
On the question on whether the party still recognises the caretaker committee led by Okocha, and as to why the party is appealing, the DNS stated further: “There is no judgement by any court, no matter how ridiculous or small the court is. That you are going to jettison.
“The APC respects the rule of law and every court. As far as there is a judgement by a competent court of jurisdiction, we are bound to attend to it.
‘’To us, it is an abuse of the court process. There is a case that has gone on appeal. Why are you going to another court to go and institute another case?
“Besides, the APC as a corporate body, was not joined in the suit. We are not a party nor joined on the matter. So, for the fact that we are not a party to the suit, we are entitled to make our decisions, which of course, suits our party the most,” he explained.
