Court restrains APC Chairman, Secretary from conducting ward congresses in Rivers

By Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an ex parte order restraining the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC) led by its Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, the Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru from going ahead  with the planned Ward, Local Government and State Congresses scheduled to hold on 11th, 16th and 26th October, 2024 respectively.

Other defendants in the suit filed by Peter Ohochukwu and Haija Ndidi-Chukwuma  for themselves and all elected executive members of APC in the State and All Progressives Congress, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria 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  conduct election to make up Rivers State Executive Committee of APC in Rivers State.

The Judge who insisted that his ruling is based on  merit of the application and oral application by the Plaintiff’s Counsel, Collins Dike also restrained the National leadership of the party against any plan to suspend the Emeka Beke  led executive  of the party in the State.

The court  went further to restrain the National Chairman of APC, the Secretary and the APC from doing anything to interfere with  the activities of the elected executive of APC in the State led by Chief Emeka Beke  pending the determination of the motion on notice.

 The Judge, Justice Ollor later adjourned the matter till 9/9/2024 for further hearing .

Speaking to newsmen outside the court, Counsel to the claimants, Collins Dike explained the reason why  his clients are in court and the position of the court.