Wike backed APC Exco in Rivers sacked by Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has upheld a Rivers State High Court judgment nullifying the APC congresses that produced Tony Okocha and his executive council, although the party insists the ruling does not affect the status of the exco pending a full trial.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has upheld the judgment of the Rivers State High Court nullifying the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses that produced Chief Tony Okocha and other members of the party’s executive council in the state. Okocha and members of the dissolved exco are known allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Justice Obomanu of the Rivers State High Court had, on December 20, 2024, nullified the congresses conducted by the APC in Rivers State, prompting the Okocha-led exco to challenge the decision at the appellate court.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Elfreida Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, affirmed the lower court’s decision nullifying the congresses. The ruling is understood to invalidate all decisions and representations made by the Okocha-led executive on behalf of the APC from December 20, 2024, to date. The development could also place candidates produced by the party for future elections in the state at risk of disqualification.

Reacting to the judgment, the Rivers APC maintained that the ruling poses no immediate threat to the status of the executive council. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said in a statement on Saturday: “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.”

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