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PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, insisting that the party’s state executive committee remains intact pending the determination of the substantive suit before the trial court.
The party made the clarification in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, following the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on May 29, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/PH/523/2024: APC & Anor. v. Okwu Joebrown Ndike.
The appeal was initiated by Tony Okocha and members of the state executive committee challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers State High Court, which invalidated the congresses that produced him and other executives of the state APC leadership.
The party explained that the appellate court’s decision was delivered in respect of an interlocutory appeal and that the matter has been remitted to the court of first instance for a full hearing on the substantive issues.
The statement said, “The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State, is aware of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt. The matter has been sent back to the court of first instance for full trial,” The APC stressed that the judgment does not affect the status of the current state executive committee, maintaining that there is no threat to the exco pending the determination of the substantive case.
“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.”
The party spokesman also urged members and supporters to remain calm and disregard what it described as deliberate misrepresentations of the court’s decision.
Ikenga expressed confidence that a proper understanding of the appellate court’s ruling would dispel concerns among party members as the matter proceeds to full trial.
He stated, “We advise party faithful to remain calm and not panic over the deliberate misrepresentation of the facts and circumstances of the judgment by those who lack in-depth knowledge of what transpired in court.”
