PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has sharply criticized the Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Mr. Festus Fuanters, for his comments on the reinstatement of Chief Emeka Beke as the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the APC. Eze described Fuanters’ remarks as “ridiculous, contemptuous, and untutored,” reflecting a disdain for the rule of law.
The controversy stems from a legal battle involving the Emeka Beke-led State Working Committee, which was ousted by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, allegedly due to their loyalty to former Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi. In contrast, Tony Okocha, a close ally of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, was installed to lead an interim committee. Dissatisfied with what they termed a “barefaced illegality,” the ousted committee members sought legal redress, prompting the court to rule in their favour.
The court’s decision to reinstate Beke and his team was met with defiance from the APC Deputy National Secretary, who asserted that the court’s judgment was not binding on the party. This stance, according to Chief Eze, underscores a troubling trend within the Ganduje-led APC leadership, which he accuses of undermining democracy and the judiciary.
Eze expressed disappointment in Victor Giadom, a notable beneficiary of the sacrifices made by APC members in Rivers State, for aligning with those who appear to be following Wike’s script. He condemned the involvement of five National Working Committee (NWC) members in what he termed a “show of shame,” accusing them of selling their loyalty for financial gain.
Eze warned that continued defiance of court orders by the APC could lead to a crisis that may shake the party to its core. He urged the party’s leadership to respect the court’s judgment and allow Emeka Beke and his congressionally elected team to serve out their term, cautioning that any further dealings with Tony Okocha in the name of the APC would be both unlawful and an invitation to anarchy.
