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PORT HARCOURT – The political landscape in Rivers State has been thrown into disarray following a recent judicial pronouncement regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket. As is shown in this news report, the ongoing power dynamics involving high-profile political figures remain at the heart of the state’s evolving electoral climate.
Court Ruling Nullifies APC Executive
The recent turmoil stems from a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, which upheld a previous High Court judgment nullifying the state, local government, and ward congresses that produced the executive led by Tony Okocha. The appellate court declared the appeal filed by the Okocha faction to be incompetent, effectively sustaining the nullification of all actions and decisions taken by that executive body.
This legal development has direct implications for the candidacy of Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who had recently emerged as the consensus APC governorship candidate for the 2027 race following the withdrawal of other notable figures, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Tonye Cole.
Wike’s Response and Next Steps
In light of these developments, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has broken his silence. Sources indicate that Wike, a central figure in the state’s political arena, has expressed dissatisfaction with the judicial interference in party affairs.
Addressing his supporters and party stakeholders, Wike signaled that the next course of action involves a robust legal appeal to challenge the nullification of the party executive. He maintained that the party remains focused on consolidating its position ahead of the 2027 elections and urged supporters to remain calm while the legal team exhausts all available remedies to overturn the ruling. Now many Nigerians are confused over whether Wike is still in PDP or not. And whether he is also a card carrying member of the ruling APC which sums up the complexity of whether a person can be member of 2 different political parties under Nigeria’s prevailing electoral Laws!
A State in Flux
The political volatility in Rivers State has been marked by a series of high-stakes maneuvers. While the APC navigates this internal crisis, the broader political environment has seen significant shifts, including the recent mass defection of House of Representatives members, which included Chinda’s transition to the APC platform.
As the legal battles continue, all eyes are on the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to see how these developments will shape the eventual path to the 2027 gubernatorial election in Rivers State.
Stay tuned to ABT NEWS for further updates on this developing story. All advertising enquiries should be sent to advertise@abtnews.net or +447918790290
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