After much speculations the hand of Rotimi Amaechi in the messy fight between Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara is becoming to emerge.
The hand of Rotimi Amaechi was on Tuesday being suspected in the war of attrition between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his erstwhile benefactor and Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
GWG.ng reports that the hand of Amaechi began to be suspected after the court-ordained chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Emeka Beke fully came out to endorse this Saturday’s local government election against the desires of the Wike tendency that controls the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and a faction of the APC in the state.
GWG.ng reports that Beke who is a rabid follower of Amaechi had won a court judgment recognizing his executive which was inspired by the penultimate governor of the state as the valid executive of the party in the state against the caretaker committee headed by Wike’s ally, Tony Okocha.
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Upon that stance, Beke in a statement made available to GWG.ng averred the strong support of the recognized Rivers State exco of the APC for the forthcoming local government election.
Okocha had obtained a court injunction against the local government election.
Affirming that the Okocha led caretaker committee to be an impostor, Beke said that the party was aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State presided by Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission had given a judgement compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice.
It noted that the judgement, being first-in-time to the latter judgement in FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence, cognizance of the fact that when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
According to the statement: “We, however, hereby notify you that Chief Tony Okocha, who filed that suit purportedly as ‘Chairman, Caretaker Committee’ of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Chapter, is an impostor and totally unknown to the Rivers Chapter of the All Progressives Congress. He is neither the Chairman nor is he a leader in any capacity whatsoever. He (Chief Tony Okocha) does not also have the authority of the leadership of the party in Rivers State as constituted under Chief Emeka Beke, to file or maintain the said suit on its behalf.
“We are equally aware that on the 4th day of September, 2024, the High Court of Rivers State per Hon Justice I. P. C. Igwe in Suit No. PHC/2696/CS/2024 between Action Peoples Party (APP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has given a judgement compelling the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to proceed with the local government election scheduled for 5th October, 2024 or any other date of its choice. That judgement, being first-in-time to the latter judgement in FHC /ABJ/CS/987/2024, takes precedence. As we all know, when two equities are equal, the first in time prevails.
“Under the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, all issues relating to the participation in the local government elections are within the authority of the State Executive Committee, and so, it is the Executive Committee as led by himself (Chief Emeka Beke) that determines whether and how the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress is to participate in the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State.
“What matters is that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already ordered the Government of Rivers State to conduct Local Government Elections in Rivers State within three months of judgement, hence the Federal High Court cannot lawfully overrule the Supreme Court by stopping the holding of the said election,” the statement added.
According to the statement, “It is on the above premise, that we write to notify you and your commission (INEC) that the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress totally supports the holding of the Local Government elections in Rivers State on the 5th of October, 2024. The Party is participating in the elections, and have indeed, submitted the names of its candidates for the various positions.”
The statement further reiterated that the judgement in Suit No. PHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 does not represent the interest of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, and accordingly distanced itself from the suit and judgment
It further urged the public and institutions to discountenance the rantings and antics of Tony Okocha and his cohorts, and fully participate in the October 5 local government election in the State.
GWG.ng reports that despite the reported assertions that Rotimi Amaechi that his hand was not in the fight between Fubara and Wike, that the latest development with his protegee, Emeka Beke fully backing the governor may show where the former transportation minister may be inclining himself.
GWG