Federal high court halts Ondo APC state congress
By Khubayb Adefaka
The Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has stopped the planned state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was scheduled to hold on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
In an ex parte order, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke restrained both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC from proceeding with the exercise pending the determination of a substantive suit before the court.
The state chapter of the APC had earlier announced that the congress would be held in line with directives from the party’s National Working Committee.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Alex Kalejaye, statutory delegates, stakeholders, and party leaders were invited to participate in the congress in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines for nationwide congresses.
However, the court’s decision followed an ex parte application filed by Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) on behalf of aggrieved party members led by Lawrence Adebayo and 7,427 others. The applicants challenged the legitimacy of the ward and local government congresses reportedly conducted on February 18 and 21, 2026, as well as the proposed state congress.
In his ruling, Justice Adegoke granted an interim injunction restraining INEC and the APC, including their officers, agents, and representatives, from acknowledging, accepting, or validating the ward and local government congresses, as well as the proposed state congress slated for March 3, 2026, or any other date, pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
The court also barred the APC and its representatives from conducting or concluding any state congress in Ondo State until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
Additionally, the judge ordered all parties to maintain the status quo as it existed before the disputed ward and local government congresses, pending the resolution of the matter.
Justice Adegoke subsequently adjourned the case to March 26, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
