By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
There is growing concern among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State that the party may struggle to present candidates in the 2027 general elections following a recent Court of Appeal judgment in Port Harcourt.
The fears stem from interpretations of the ruling, which some party stakeholders say could invalidate key party activities, including membership registration, local government elections, and recently concluded primaries.
It was recalled that in 2019, the APC did not field a governorship candidate in Rivers State due to unresolved legal disputes within the party.
Speaking on the development, an APC chieftain, Barr. Sogbeye Eli, said court decisions remain binding unless overturned by the Supreme Court.
He warned that the implications of the judgment could be far-reaching for the party’s electoral prospects.
“Whatever the court says is binding until it is set aside by the Supreme Court,” Eli said.
He added that activities carried out under the leadership of the former state chairman, Chief Tony Okocha—including primaries and other party exercises—could now be affected by the ruling.
“Those activities are now null and void. This is a dangerous moment for the APC in Rivers State. The party may likely not field any candidate if the situation is not resolved quickly,” he said.
Eli further cautioned that delays in appealing the judgment at the Supreme Court could affect the party’s ability to meet Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timelines.
Also speaking, former APC chieftain, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said the judgment confirmed long-standing concerns about the legality of some party structures in the state.
He alleged that some party leaders were aware of irregularities but ignored them.
“The Appeal Court judgment has confirmed what we have been saying. They need a platform to continue their activities, but the law is catching up with them,” he said.
Eze also suggested that political developments in Rivers State could reshape party alignments ahead of 2027, claiming that key political blocs may face setbacks.
He recalled past electoral disputes in the state, arguing that similar issues could again affect the APC’s chances.
On the fate of aspirants loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara who were disqualified during the primaries, Barr. Eli said they were also affected by the court’s decision, noting that they participated in processes conducted under the disputed party leadership.
The stakeholders warned that unless urgent legal and political steps are taken, the APC’s participation in the 2027 elections in Rivers State could be jeopardised.
