The last is yet to be heard regarding the emerging crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its leadership under Chief Emeka Beke has declared all activities, nominations and decisions carried out by the Tony Okocha-led faction invalid following a recent Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed Beke as the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
The Rivers APC in a statement endorsed by the party’s spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, insisted that all political decisions, nominations, official correspondences and documents issued during the period by the Okocha faction are now invalid.
The Beke-led leadership said every action taken by the rival faction between December 20, 2024, and May 29, 2026, lacks legal backing and cannot stand, an indication that APC may likely not field candidates for the 2027 polls in Rivers.
The party leadership made it clear that following the Appeal court ruling any representation made on behalf of the Rivers APC under the disputed leadership structure has no legal effect.
The declaration is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the party in Rivers State, particularly regarding candidates and political processes conducted under the Okocha-led executive.
The Beke leadership used the forum to call on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to urgently review all records connected to the disputed primaries and other decisions taken by the Okocha group.
The faction warned that failure to address the situation promptly could expose the party to legal challenges capable of affecting its electoral fortunes in future elections.
Still firing from all cylinders, the Rivers APC leadership further urged the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to withdraw certificates issued to local government chairmen and councillors elected during the August 2025 local government elections conducted under the disputed structure.
The development comes days after the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt upheld an earlier judgment that recognized Beke as the lawful chairman of the Rivers APC and nullified the congresses that brought Okocha and his executive committee into office.
