The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, under the leadership of Tony Okocha, has issued a stern warning to its members regarding the potential expulsion of those who resort to judicial processes to undermine the party’s image.
During a media interaction held in Port Harcourt on a Sunday, Okocha revealed that the party is currently appealing a recent court judgement issued by Justice Godwin Ogbondah, which invalidated the state congresses conducted in November 2024.
The judgement, made by a Rivers State High Court led by Justice Ogbondah, declared the congresses void, citing violations of a prior court order.
The case was brought forth by three dissatisfied APC members—Okwu Joebrown-Ndike, Peace Oganu, and Samuel Uchegbule—who claimed they were excluded from the congress despite having purchased nomination forms.
Okocha expressed his discontent, stating, “From the moment I took office, I reached out to everyone, urging collaboration.
However, I will not tolerate actions that embarrass the party and, by extension, our President.”
He underlined the importance of maintaining the party’s integrity, noting that “the APC is Mr. President’s political party,” and asserted he would not stand idle while individuals tried to undermine the national leadership.
Further emphasizing that the APC’s national secretariat had communicated the congress dates well in advance, Okocha recounted how he ran uncontested for his position as State Chairman, attributing this unopposed candidacy to the confidence shown in his leadership abilities by party members.
He also mentioned the substantial fees paid for candidacy forms, which he described in detail, and expressed surprise that anyone could contest the congress results given the transparency of the process.
Okocha made it clear that the party’s decisions were made within legal frameworks, stating, “That judgement has no bearing on us. We will continue our activities as the party is supreme, and we will determine how we govern the APC in Rivers State.”
He criticized the recent court ruling as ineffective and vowed to persist in their established processes without judicial interference.
In a broader critique, Okocha accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of exploiting the judiciary to incite division within the APC, urging him instead to focus on his own political status within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that Fubara is no longer a recognized member.
He characterized the state judiciary as being manipulated at the governor’s discretion and lamented how this undermines the legal system’s integrity.In closing, he articulated his frustrations regarding the governor’s actions, stating, “Fubara appears to be attempting to create chaos and confusion within the party, but he should rather concentrate on re-establishing his status with the PDP, as he is no longer affiliated with any party.”
