Judicial Decision: APC Leadership in Rivers State Declares Primaries Invalid

The reinstated leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, now recognized as legitimate by a Court of Appeal judgment, has declared that all nominations and decisions made by the Tony Okocha-led executive are null and void, effectively rendering them invalid. This move comes on the heels of the Court of Appeal's ruling in Port Harcourt, which upheld an earlier High Court decision affirming Chief Emeka Beke as the lawful APC chairman in the state.

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The Court of Appeal's judgment, delivered last Saturday, invalidated the congresses that produced the Okocha-led executive, thereby affirming Beke's position as the authentic state chairman. This ruling has significant implications for the party's structure and operations in Rivers State.

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In a statement issued by the party's spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, the Beke-led leadership asserted that all actions taken by the Okocha faction between December 20, 2024, and May 29, 2026, are "illegal, null and void". This includes nominations, communications, and political decisions made during this period.

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The statement explicitly stated that "all nominations, representations, communications, documentations, including decisions reached on behalf of the Rivers State Chapter of the APC within the period are of no effect", leaving no doubt about the party's position on the matter. This declaration has far-reaching consequences for the party's candidates and electoral processes.

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The development has effectively invalidated all candidate selections and political processes conducted under the Okocha structure, including governorship, National Assembly, and House of Assembly primaries reportedly aligned with interests associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. This means that these processes will need to be re-evaluated in light of the new developments.

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The Beke faction has urged the APC National Working Committee to immediately review and expunge all records linked to the disputed primaries, warning that failure to act could expose the party to a repeat of the "Zamfara experience", where electoral victories were lost due to invalid nominations. This is a critical step in resolving the party's internal crisis.

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The Beke faction has also called on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to withdraw certificates issued to local government chairmen and councillors elected under the Okocha-backed structure during the August 2025 council polls. This move is aimed at restoring legitimacy to the electoral process in the state.

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The judgment and subsequent declaration have triggered fresh uncertainty over several political positions and ambitions in the state, including those linked to recent defections and candidacies now under legal scrutiny. This has created a sense of unease among politicians and party members in Rivers State.

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Legal observers say the ruling has significantly altered the political balance within the APC in Rivers State, shifting attention from individual ambitions to which faction has legitimate authority to produce candidates for the 2027 elections. This is a critical factor in determining the party's future prospects in the state.

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A political analyst, Robinson Esin, said the key issue now is legitimacy rather than candidacy, emphasizing that the real battle is over which APC structure has the legal authority to produce candidates. This highlights the complexity of the situation and the need for a clear resolution.

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The APC national leadership is now expected to reconcile the court-backed Beke executive with actions already taken by the rival Okocha faction, as the party moves to resolve the deepening internal crisis. This will require careful negotiation and a commitment to upholding the rule of law.