A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an ex parte order preventing the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the direction of Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje and Secretary Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru, from moving forward with the scheduled Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses set to take place on October 11, 16, and 26, 2024.
The injunction stems from a lawsuit initiated by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma, representing themselves and all elected executive members of the APC within the state. The APC, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were named as defendants in the case.
Justice Godwin O. Ollor ruled on the ex parte motion on Thursday, also barring the defendants and their associates from conducting or overseeing any elections related to the Rivers State executive committee.
In his ruling, Justice Ollor noted that the decision was based on the strengths of the application and the oral arguments presented by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Collins Dike.
Furthermore, the court has prohibited the national leadership of the APC from attempting to suspend the state executives led by Emeka Beke. The judge also restricted the actions of the APC’s national chairman, secretary, and the party itself from interfering with the operations of the elected APC executives in Rivers State until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is resolved.
Reports indicate that Justice Ollor has scheduled the next hearing for September 9, 2024, to discuss the motion on notice.
Outside the courtroom, Collins Dike, representing the claimants, expressed his views, stating, “Following the insightful judgment of My Lord Honorable S. H. Aprioku, the national office communicated their intention to conduct an elective congress specifically for Rivers State.
“The underlying goal was to negate the previous judgment by Honorable Justice Aprioku, which clearly established that the tenure of the elected party executives remains valid until the constitutionally mandated four-year term concludes.
“It is puzzling that despite the absence of vacancies in the executive committee, the national leadership proceeded to plan an elective congress, fully aware of the existing judgment, which they had received.
“This prompted us to take action, as their attempts to convene an elective congress could potentially undermine the judgment rendered by Honorable Justice S. H. Aprioku.
“We are pleased that the court recognized the validity of our arguments and evidence, leading to a restraining order against their plans until all parties can be heard.”
