Rivers APC holds congresses despite court order

The Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State on Saturday held its party congresses and described it as very peaceful, despite a court order restraining the party from conducting any congress.

The Guardian gathered that the congress was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of Security Service (DSS), and the police.

Recall that a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice G.V. Obomanu, had on Wednesday given an order of interim injunction restraining the APC from conducting its congresses.

The court explained that the order followed a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party in the state, Okwudili Ndike, Peace Oganu, Samuel Uchegbule, and others, who said they paid for the forms to participate in the congress but were excluded from getting the forms.

But a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Jacobs Chimezie, confirmed that the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Tony Okocha, was at the venue of the APC Congress in Ikwerre LGA to monitor the process.

According to the statement, which was backed with photo clips, Okocha arrived at the council after casting his vote in his LGA in Obio-Akpor.

The statement noted that Okocha commended the peaceful conduct of the congress, congratulated those who were elected, and charged them to see their victory as a call for more work, loyalty, and dedication to the party.

Okocha thanked the leaders of the party in Ikwerre LGA for coming out in large numbers to participate in the congress.

The statement said party stakeholders from Ikwerre LGA who were present at the Local Government Congress included the State Publicity Secretary of APC Rivers State, Chibike Ikenga; former Member representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka; Ezemoye Ezekiel Amadi; Dr. Anosike Joseph Orduwa; Emma Amadi; Dr. Steve Worgu; Chizi Nyeomasila; Obinna Ekem; Charles Wobodo; among others.