The internal crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated on Tuesday as the faction led by Chief Emeka Beke, and supported by former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, demanded the resignation of the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
The call followed comments Morka made during a recent radio interview, where he appeared to recognise the Chief Tony Okocha–led group as the legitimate APC leadership in Rivers State. In the process, he questioned the status of the Beke-led faction, suggesting that its officials were no longer part of the current party structure. This remark was widely interpreted as a dismissal of the Beke faction’s existence.
Morka’s comments were made in the context of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused the governor and his deputy of alleged “gross misconduct,” a move that has further intensified political tensions in the state.
Reacting to Morka’s remarks, the Rivers APC, through its state Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, accused the national spokesman of taking sides in a matter still under legal dispute. Nwauju argued that Morka’s statements were misleading, inflammatory, and inconsistent with existing court judgments on the leadership of the party in the state.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Nwauju stated that multiple court rulings had nullified attempts to dissolve the state executive elected on October 16, 2021, and had also voided a subsequent congress held in November 2023. According to him, these judgments affirm the legitimacy of the Beke-led executive and invalidate claims that the faction no longer exists.
He further described Morka’s comments as personal opinions rather than the official position of the APC, insisting that the national spokesman overstepped his bounds by publicly endorsing one faction over another. The Rivers APC faction therefore called for disciplinary action against Morka, including his resignation, arguing that his conduct undermines internal democracy and worsens the already fragile political atmosphere in the state.
The controversy is unfolding against the backdrop of a wider power struggle within Rivers State politics, where party leadership disputes, legislative conflicts, and the impeachment move against Governor Fubara have deepened divisions across party lines. Critics of the impeachment process have warned that it could destabilise governance in the state, while supporters insist it follows constitutional procedures.
As of the time of this report, Felix Morka has not issued a public response to the resignation demand, and the national leadership of the APC has yet to formally intervene. However, the latest development signals a further deepening of the rift within the party’s Rivers State chapter, with potential implications for its cohesion and political fortunes in the state.
