APC defies court order, vows Ondo congress will hold

The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has vowed to go ahead with the state congress slated for Tuesday, despite a restraining order of the Federal High Court.

The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke, stated that the state congress would hold as scheduled, as the party was not aware of any court order.

“I’m a lawyer. I don’t rely on social media for information. The national headquarters of the party has yet to notify me as a zonal chairman or inform the congress committee that they have received any document, and there is no directive from the national headquarters.

“I told you we are a party of law and order. If we have instructions or directives from the national secretariat, it will be obeyed,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, restrained the APC from conducting a state congress scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The court also nullified the ward and local government congresses of the party held on February 18 and 21, respectively.

In an ex parte order, Justice Toyin Adegoke restrained the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission from proceeding with the congress pending the determination of a substantive suit

The APC had earlier announced March 3 as the date for its state congress nationwide, and arrangements had been concluded to hold the exercise in Ondo State.

In a statement signed by the party’s Ondo State Publicity Secretary, Mr Alex Kalejaye, on Monday, the party said the exercise was approved by its National Working Committee.

“In line with the constitution and guidelines for the conduct of nationwide congresses, and as approved by the National Working Committee of our party, the Ondo State chapter cordially invites statutory delegates, critical stakeholders and party leaders to the State Congress of Ondo State APC,” Kalejaye stated.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, filed an ex parte application on behalf of aggrieved party members led by Lawrence Adebayo and 7,427 others.

The APC and INEC are the defendants in the suit.

Ruling on the application, Justice Adegoke granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, acting through its officers, agents, assigns, successors, representatives, and all persons claiming through or under it, from acknowledging, accepting, recognising, giving effect to, or in any manner validating the purported ward and local government congresses conducted by the APC on February 18 and 21, 2026, and the proposed state congress.

The court further ordered both respondents to maintain the status quo ante bellum before the conduct of the ward, local government, and state congresses, and not to take any action that could prejudice the hearing and determination of the interlocutory injunction

Earlier reports indicated that, in line with directives from the national secretariat, the APC held ward and local government congresses across the federation.

In Ondo State, however, the ward congress in Idanre Local Government Area turned violent, as some political opponents were attacked.

The state police confirmed the death of two persons, while several others were injured.

Thirteen people were arrested in connection with the violence, according to a statement by the state police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.

A day before the Idanre violence, the Akure office of the party was attacked by thugs who beat up the state chairman, Ade Adetimehin.

Culled from punch