A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an ex parte order preventing the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from conducting ward, local government, and state congresses in Rivers State, originally scheduled for October 11, 16, and 26, 2024.
The order, granted by Justice Godwin O. Ollor, also restrains the APC, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from organizing or overseeing any elections for the state’s executive committee.
The lawsuit was filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma on behalf of all elected executive members of the APC in Rivers State. They argued that the planned congresses violated a prior judgment confirming the tenure of the current state executives, led by Emeka Beke, was still valid until the end of their four-year term.
Justice Ollor emphasized that the order was based on the merits of the plaintiffs’ application and the oral arguments presented by their counsel, Collins Dike.
The court further barred the APC’s national leadership from suspending the state executives or interfering with their activities until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is heard on September 9, 2024.
Speaking outside the courtroom, Dike expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that the court recognized the need to prevent the APC national leadership from undermining the existing judgment by attempting to hold the congresses.
