A State High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an injunction preventing the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from conducting ward and local government congresses in the state.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Godwin Ollor, was in response to a motion ex parte filed by plaintiffs Peter Ohochukwu and Hajia Ndidi-Chukwuma. The court order restrains APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Secretary Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiru, and the APC itself from proceeding with the scheduled congresses on October 11th, 16th, and 26th, 2024.

Furthermore, the court’s decision prohibits the involvement of the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigerian Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the planned congresses. Justice Ollor specifically barred these entities from conducting, supervising, or monitoring any electoral activities related to forming the APC’s Rivers State executive committee.

The ruling also prevents the national leadership of the APC from taking any steps to suspend the current Emeka Beke-led executive committee in Rivers State. The case has been adjourned to September 9th for the hearing of the motion on notice, setting the stage for a potential conflict over the party’s leadership in the state. This decision comes just 24 hours after Tony Okocha, a former APC chairman in Rivers State, announced that the party would not participate in the upcoming council elections.