Former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to respect the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.
Eze also criticized recent comments made by the APC’s Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanters, concerning the court-ordered reinstatement of Emeka Beke as the Rivers State APC chairman.
Naija News reports that tensions have escalated within the party following legal battles between the Emeka Beke-led State Working Committee, which was ousted by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Tony Okocha, the Caretaker Committee Chairman.
The Beke faction, loyal to former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, found itself at odds with Okocha, who is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In response to their removal, the Beke-led committee sought judicial clarification on their ouster, arguing that their congressionally elected four-year term was still in effect.
The court ruled in their favor, criticizing the party for violating its own constitution by dissolving a democratically elected leadership and installing an interim committee without evidence of misconduct or anti-party activities.
Fuanters, however, rejected the court’s decision, stating in a press briefing that the ruling “is not binding on the party,” and that the APC continues to recognize and work with the caretaker committee.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Eze condemned the remarks made by Fuanters, accusing the Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of undermining democracy, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.
Eze argued that Fuanters’ dismissive attitude toward the court’s judgment reflects a dangerous disregard for legal authority and raises concerns about his qualifications as a lawyer.
Eze further warned that the NWC’s actions could lead the APC into a crisis, portraying the party as defiant against lawful court orders, which could have dire consequences for both the judiciary and the nation as a whole.
He also expressed disappointment that a small faction of the NWC, which he claims has been influenced by Wike, is pushing the party toward this perilous path.
Eze emphasized that the majority of the NWC, including key figures such as the Chairman, Publicity Secretary, and Legal Adviser, have distanced themselves from the media briefing orchestrated by Wike’s faction.
Eze cautioned Ganduje and his cohorts to “be wary of inveighing the APC into a situation in which the party will be reckoned with as a group dissident to lawful orders and decisions of courts, noting that such narrative from a ruling party spells doom for the judiciary and the country.”
He noted that “the five NWC members who showed up for the meeting represent a group who have sold their souls to Wike for money, and unfortunately, Victor Giadom is among them.
“The party is aware that with the position of the court as represented in the judgment, Emeka Beke remains the Chairman, and any dealings with Tony Okocha in the name of the party in Rivers State are unlawful and an invitation to anarchy. The knowledge of this truth made the majority of the NWC members (20 of them), especially the principal members like the Chairman, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, and others, distance themselves from the Wike-induced media briefing.”
He called on the APC leadership to honor the court’s ruling, allowing Emeka Beke and his elected team to complete their term as mandated, in order to prevent a potential crisis that could destabilize the party.
The post Tony Okocha: Eze Warns Ganduje-led NWC APC Against Ignoring Court Judgment In Rivers Leadership Conflict appeared first on Naija News.