Court suspends planned APC congresses in Rivers

The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an ex-parte order restraining the All Progressives Congress from holding its scheduled congresses in Rivers State.

The court ordered that the national leadership of the APC led by its Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and its Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru should not go ahead to conduct the ward, local government, and state congresses scheduled for 11th, 16th, and 26th October 2024.

Other defendants in the suits filed by Peter Ohochukwu, Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma for themselves and all elected executive members of APC in the state were the APC, Inspector-General of Police, Nigerian Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Godwin Ollor in his ruling on the ex-parte motion also restrained the defendants either for themselves, their men, officers, or agents from conducting, supervising, holding, monitoring, or in any other manner conducting elections to make up Rivers State executive committee.

Justice Ollor insisted that his ruling was based on the merit of the application and oral application by the plaintiffs’ Lawyer, Collins Dike.

The judge also restrained the national leadership of the party against any plan to suspend the Emeka Beke-led executives of the party in the state.

The court further restrained the National Chairman of APC, the Secretary, and the APC from doing anything to interfere in the activities of the elected executive of APC in the state led by Chief Beke pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injection.

Justice Ollor adjourned till September 9, 2024, for a hearing of motion on notice.