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Court Restrains APC From Conducting Congresses In Rivers

APC Convention

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Thursday, granted an ex parte order restraining the national leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje and Secretary Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru from proceeding with the planned Rivers State Ward, Local Government and State Congresses scheduled for October 11, 16, and 26, 2024.

Gatekeepers News reports that the lawsuit was filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma on behalf of themselves and all elected executive members of the APC in the state.

Defendants in the lawsuit include APC, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Police, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Godwin O. Ollor, in his ruling on the ex parte motion also restrained the defendants, their representatives, officers, or agents from conducting, supervising, holding, monitoring, or otherwise organizing any elections for Rivers State executive committee.

The judge noted that his ruling was based on the merits of the application and oral arguments presented by plaintiffs’ counsel, Collins Dike.

Also, Justice Godwill barred the national leadership of APC from attempting to suspend the state executives led by Emeka Beke.

The judge further restrained APC’s national chairman, secretary, and the party itself from interfering with activities of elected APC executives in the state, led by Beke, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

Justice Ollor adjourned the case to September 9, 2024, for a hearing of the motion on notice.

Counsel for the claimants, Collins Dike while speaking to journalists outside the courtroom said, “After the very erudite judgement of My Lord Honorable S. H. Aprioku, the national office wrote a letter in which they disclosed their plans to hold an elective congress specifically for Rivers State.”

“Invariably what they intended to achieve with that was to ensure the judgement of Honorable Justice Aprioku was rendered a nullity.”

“The judgement of Honorable justice Aprioku was very clear, that the tenure of office of the elected executives of the party was still subsisting, was still valid, until the four years term the constitution gave them expired.”

“But curiously, these people, in spite of the fact that there’s no vacancy in the various offices that make up the executive committee, went behind and started planning how to hold an elective congress, in-spite of the fact that they are fully aware of that judgement, they have been served with that judgment.”

“So, it is for that reason that we said no. They have created a new cause of action by their attempt to proceed with plans to hold an elective congress. And if we do not do anything, they will foist a fait accompli on the court with respect to the judgement of Honorable Justice S. H. Aprioku by purporting to hold that elective congress.”

“And it is for that reason that we have gone on to say that no, what they want to do is contrary to the law.”

“And we are happy that the court was convinced with the facts we presented, convinced with the argument we presented. And the court has in very clear terms, restrained them from proceeding in the interim pending when the court will be hearing all the parties.”

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