By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the judgment of a Rivers State High court delivered by Justice Godswill Obomanu, which nullified the Local Government and State Congresses organized by the Tony Okocha-led faction of the party as victory for democracy.

Eze said that the outcome of the judgment has caused a huge setback for some undemocratic forces in the State.

The Congresses, according to Eze, were conducted in bad faith to replace the Chief Emeka Beke-led State Executive Committee of the Rivers APC whose tenure is still running and yet to be terminated.

Justice Obomanu’s judgment followed a contempt of court proceeding by the Emeka Bekee camp.

Eze decried that Rivers APC has been neck-deep in fresh crisis since the appointment of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as National Chairman of the party.

“At first, Ganduje whose clear mandate was to unite the party and repair its fractured soul arising from the compromised outcome of the party’s presidential primary which saw the emergence of Bola Tinubu, appointed a caretaker committee to take over the administration of the party while the tenure of the congressionally elected state officials led by Emeka Beke, was still subsisting.

“This deliberate gaffe by Ganduje became a subject of judicial interpretation in suit nos PHC/3592/CS/2023 between Sam-Sam Etetegwung v. Abdulahi Ganduje & Ors and PHC/3735/CS/2023 between Chief Barnax Ezeboy Enyi & Ors v. All Progressives Congress, where Justice Aprioku J. delivered judgement in favor of the congressionally elected party executives whose tenure runs till October 2025.

“Dissatisfied with the judgement, Ganduje quickly arranged for Ward, LGA and State congresses for the Rivers APC and the planned exercise received a judicial knock when the court ordered Ganduje who appeared to be acting for the APC, to stay further action on the conduct of the said congresses pending the determination of the suit”.

Chief Emeka Beke, filed contempt of court proceeding where Justice Godswill Obomanu, after listening to the submissions of parties nullified the congresses and slammed on the defendants a fine of N10,000,000 for acting in contempt of a competent order of court.

Reacting on this development, Chief Eze, a close ally of a former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation under the President Muhammad Buhari’s government, Barr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the judgement has shamed the likes of APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Tony Okocha and others for attempting to foist none members on the Rivers APC.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Port-Harcourt, Chief Eze specifically, commended the Justice Obomanu, for the industry and justice of the issue put before him for adjudication, which he dutifully discharged without fair or favour, ill will or affection.

“I commend the court for its wisdom and courage in delivering this judgment, while also extending our gratitude to supporters/allies and well meaning members of the APC in Rivers State for their unwavering support throughout this legal battle.

“This judgment is not just a win for the Rivers State APC but a victory for the entire lovers of democracy in Nigeria. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that this judgment is enforced and that justice is served”.

He said with the judgement, Chief Emeka Beke’s tenure has been cemented and preserved till 2025, which is the due date for a new Congress as there was no vacuum that could warrant the actions of conduct of congresses.