Rivers APC Says Felix Morka Must Step Down as Party Spokesperson

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has been requested to step down from his position immediately.

After hearing Morka’s interview on national television and his remarks criticizing the party’s stance on legislative overreach and what he called a coup d’etat by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. (Mrs.) Ngozi Odu, the party said the call was necessary.

The party added that Morka’s response to the inquiry on the status of Mr. Darlington Nwauju, who made statements on the party’s behalf in Rivers, was embarrassing.

Nwauju was “an official of the old exco, saying he doubts if he is still part of the current exco,” according to Morka.

The APC in Rivers State said in a statement signed by Nwauju on Tuesday that it is concerned about Morka’s persistent mockery, disrespect, and disdain for legitimate court decisions, which he claims has raised serious doubts about the veracity of the remarks, opinions, and statements made by the legally recognized Party Spokesperson in Rivers State.

The statement continued, “We are therefore calling for his disbarment, owing to the fact that Suits No. PHC/3592/CS/2023 (Sam Sam Etetegwung Vs APC) and No. 3859/CS/2024 (Okwu Joe Brown Ndke Vs APC) both voided the kangaroo congress held in November 2023 to replace the Executives elected in October 2021, giving Mr. Nwauju the audacity to speak on behalf of the party in Rivers.”

“Mr. Morka has lost the moral high ground to continue acting as a national officer of our great party after being elected to appear on national television to promote partisan interpretation to existing court rulings over the party leadership question in Rivers APC, since we are practicing a Constitutional democracy and our Party is built on progressive ideals to defend democratic practice and promote the rule law.”

“Any sincere member of our party who is hoping for the party to mobilize and win fair and square elections in Rivers for Mr. President should not disregard this deceptive story.

“We dare claim that Mr. Morka ought to have remained silent instead of using his interview to disguise himself as a non-party member above and beyond one of the Party’s governors who also serves as our party’s undisputed leader in Rivers State.

Once more, we understand that the National Working Committee, which operates independently of the National Executive Committee (NEC), represents our party’s conscience and should not continue to support individuals who prioritize internal party cohesion over divisiveness.

We are also aware of Article 13.4 (xvi), which states that “the National Working Committee shall communicate with governments established by the Party at all levels with a view to ensuring that members of the Party are accorded priority in appointments into public offices and shall furnish the National Executive Committee with periodic reports in this regard.”

Therefore, we don’t understand why Mr. Morka, an APC national officer, would minimize the grave problem of a self-serving impeachment procedure against an APC governor in office. There is much to be desired in Mr. Morka’s opinion, which we all know is wholly personal and cannot pass for the position of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress in Nigeria. It also raises concerns about his allegiance to the APC.

“Party supporters throughout Rivers State and beyond are left with a bad taste in their mouths and a black eye due to Mr. Morka’s disregard for the collective welfare and interests of our Party. We are tempted to wonder: “Is Morka genuinely working for the APC’s victory?

Mr. Morka is a qualified attorney who ought to know better, but he has deliberately decided to ignore the situation as it benefits him financially.

“We think it’s time for the NBA, and more especially the Legal Practitioners Privileges Council, to look into and examine the intentional, scandalous behavior of Mr. Morka, whose remarks and actions on national television are intended to undermine the court’s dignity and harm the Nigerian legal profession’s reputation irreversibly.

“We reaffirm this fact and inform everyone, including our wonderful party’s National Working Committee, that the actions of individuals who were allegedly “elected” to lead the APC in Rivers State through kangaroo congresses led by Alhaji Umar Ganduje in November 2023 are a direct insult to the courts because their actions are based on flawed principles and cannot withstand the test of legal fireworks!

“What happened to Rivers APC in 2019 cannot be repeated by our National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, and Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.”