Rivers State High Court Halts APC Congresses Amidst Controversy

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an ex parte order, restraining the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from proceeding with planned Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses scheduled for October 11, 16, and 26, 2024. The move comes amidst controversy surrounding the APC’s leadership and internal elections.

The lawsuit, filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma on behalf of themselves and all elected executive members of the APC in the state, also named the APC, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

The court’s decision is a significant blow to the APC’s plans, which had been met with resistance from some party members. The party’s national leadership, led by Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje and Secretary Surajudeen Ojibola-Basiru, had been pushing forward with the congresses despite opposition from some quarters.

The court’s order is expected to be a major setback for the APC, which had been hoping to use the congresses to consolidate its power and push through its agenda. The party’s internal elections have been marred by controversy and allegations of rigging, which has led to widespread discontent among party members.

The situation is likely to have significant implications for Nigerian politics, particularly ahead of the 2023 general elections. The APC’s internal struggles and controversy surrounding its leadership are likely to affect the party’s chances in the elections, which are expected to be highly competitive.

Details of the court’s decision and the next steps in the controversy are expected to be revealed soon.