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The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with its chairman Emeka Beke back, has strongly opposed the recent suit filed by party member Tony Okocha aimed at blocking the allocation of funds to local government councils.
In a press statement, APC spokesperson Darlington Nwawuju criticized Mr. Okocha and his caretaker committee for defying the court judgment that nullified his leadership and continuing to act in defiance of the judgment.
Mr. Nwawuju accused Okocha of trying to undermine Congress, claiming that Okocha’s actions were driven by frustration over losing access to Congress funds.
The criticism follows a press conference in which Okocha admitted to proceeding with the lawsuit, citing procedural concerns.
The APC statement said any attempt to block local government funding amounted to a “civil coup.”
The party expressed deep disappointment that Mr. Okocha ignored a valid court judgment and said that Mr. Okocha and his associates ignored the judgment of the Port Harcourt High Court that nullified his leadership and instead He pointed out that he was boasting about the order to defund local governments from Abuja.
The APC warned that interfering with local government funds would undermine the livelihoods of countless Rivers residents, especially council workers who depend on these allocations.
The statement further criticized the judiciary as being manipulated by “desperate politicians” and cited the judgment of the Rivers State High Court (case number PHC/3592/CS/2023) which upheld the leadership of the state APC and the legitimacy of the elections. ) was emphasized.
The party cited Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, which limits interference by courts in the electoral functions of INEC, and Section 60(2) of the Rivers State Local Government Act, 2018, which strengthens the independence of electoral bodies.
Read the full statement below:
“Attempts to isolate third-tier government by blocking local government allocations in Rivers State amount to a coup d’état.”
“~Okocha and others were fired and are still being fired.”
“We have carefully studied the events that have taken place in our dear state, especially those concerning the functioning of local government, and we have never seen anyone raise their arms in the air like Pontius Pilate or sit on the fence. We have come to the realization that doing so will only further weaken our influence.” It is outside the framework of national democracy.
“We are shocked by the continued gleeful contempt for the valid judgment of the court that fired Tony Okocha and his group.
“After more than nine months of litigation, Okocha and his friends, who neither believe nor respect the judgment of the High Court that annulled the so-called appointment by the NWC, are openly boasting that they have obtained a judgment from the Coordination Court. The Abuja jurisdiction has suspended local government allocations in Rivers State, thereby depriving thousands of Rivers residents, particularly parliamentary staff, whose livelihood and survival depend on the local government system. It makes me feel dissatisfied.
“We do not believe that the judiciary should continue to be manipulated by desperate politicians to the point of abolishing affidavits in the name of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. Meanwhile, Port Harcourt While the competent court of , took a contrary position to this judgment, the apparatus claimed to be represented by Tony Okocha (see case number PHC/3592/CS/2023).
“We support the fact that electoral bodies are expected to be independent and neutral and must be prepared to resist interference from the courts. This is believed to have been done by holding local government elections in Rivers State on October 5, 2024.
“Section 87 of the 2010 Elections Act prohibits courts from enjoining INEC from carrying out its electoral duties. Section 60(2) of the Rivers State Local Government Act 2018 is enhanced from the Elections Act.
“Attempts to arrest an electoral process that is underway or nearly completed amounts to a coup against our democratic norms. Recall that when we ordered the forfeiture of funds belonging to Lagos State, the state government stood firm and won the case.
“Also in 2005, Congress enacted legislation to oversee the nation’s local government funding by appointing oversight commissions. States were taken to court, and the Supreme Court ruled that local governments must be democratically elected. He said the federal government does not have the authority to monitor funding for local governments.
“The Supreme Court of Nigeria also strengthened the powers and independence of local governments under our laws under Article 162(7) of the Constitution, allowing them to receive funds without hindrance.
“Nigerians, as recently as 2018, during the 8th session of Parliament under Speaker Ikuyi Owaji, were convinced that the Rivers State House of Assembly was capable of all sorts of bizarre laws that would further the civilian dictatorship in the state. The election of Mr. Martins Amaefure as Majority Leader reminded the House of Representatives to amend Article 60(2) of the Local Government Elections Act. The bill, which prohibits aggrieved parties from filing lawsuits in connection with local government elections, was hastily signed by former governor Nyesom Wike.
“Today, the same people, through Tony Okocha, are running through all the benches of the Federal High Court to obtain orders aimed at destroying the local government system in Rivers State.
“Based on the principle of consistency, it was decided that the court would be able to ensure that the third party in Rivers State We believe that strata government should not be manipulated to be segregated, as we have always spent time holding elections under Justice George Omereji, but instead local government councils through management committees. We chose to run it for a solid nine months.
“We recognize that the funds belonging to local government councils across the state are no longer accessible to these greedy politicians. , I’m sure it’s not about deepening the democratic process.
“We want these cannon fodder and latter-day apostles of due process to appoint members of Nigeria’s electoral bodies through advertisements and for shortlisted candidates to pass through the electoral bodies. I propose to join in the call for implementation of the report of the Justice Muhammad Uwais Commission which recommended it to the parliament and then to a civil coup aimed at punishing innocent Rivers residents. This is the path we need to take to ensure confidence in the electoral process by all political parties.”
