The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called on the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, to resign from his position with immediate effect.
The party said the demand followed Morka’s recent interview on national television, during which he made comments critical of the Rivers APC’s position on what it described as legislative overreach and an alleged coup d’état by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly aimed at removing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The Rivers APC said it was embarrassed by Morka’s response to questions concerning Mr Darlington Nwauju, who has been issuing statements on behalf of the party in the state.
During the interview, Morka reportedly described Nwauju as “an official of the old exco,” adding that he doubted whether Nwauju remained part of the current executive.
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In a statement signed by Nwauju on Tuesday, the Rivers APC said it was alarmed by what it described as Morka’s continued ridicule, disrespect and disregard for valid court rulings, noting that his actions had raised serious questions about the credibility of statements and opinions attributed to the legally recognised spokesperson of the party in Rivers State.
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He cited Suit No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (Sam Sam Etetegwung vs APC) and Suit No. 3859/CS/2024 (OkwuJoe Brown Ndke vs APC), which it said nullified the dissolution of executives elected on October 16, 2021, and voided the congress conducted in November 2023 to replace them.
According to the statement, the court rulings affirmed Nwauju’s authority to speak for the party in Rivers State.
The APC said Morka had lost the moral standing to continue as a national officer of the party, accusing him of promoting partisan interpretations of subsisting court judgments on the Rivers APC leadership crisis.
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It warned that such narratives were dangerous and capable of undermining the party’s chances of mobilising and winning elections transparently in the state.
The party further accused Morka of using his media appearance to defend what it described as a non-party member at the expense of an APC governor, whom it referred to as the undisputed leader of the party in Rivers State.
Party Maintains Morka’s Views Were Personal
The statement also urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to resist actions that could promote division rather than cohesion within the party, stressing that the NWC should uphold constitutional provisions guiding party affairs.
Questioning Morka’s stance on the impeachment moves against Governor Fubara, the Rivers APC said it was surprised that a national officer of the party would downplay what it described as a self-serving process against a sitting APC governor.
The party maintained that Morka’s views were personal and did not reflect the position of the NWC, adding that his conduct raised concerns about his loyalty to the APC.
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It further alleged that Morka, a lawyer by training, had deliberately ignored legal implications for personal benefit, and called on the Nigerian Bar Association and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Council to investigate his conduct.
The Rivers APC reiterated that actions taken by individuals elected through what it described as “kangaroo congresses” conducted in November 2023 were in contempt of court and legally unsustainable.
The party warned the national leadership not to allow a repeat of the crisis that affected the Rivers APC in 2019, urging the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, to intervene.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
