The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has declared that its scheduled state congress will go on as planned, notwithstanding an interim order issued by the Federal High Court halting the exercise.
Speaking on Monday, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaacs Kekemeke, said the leadership in the state had not received any formal notice of the court directive from the national secretariat.
According to him, neither his office nor members of the congress committee had been officially served any document stopping the process, insisting that the party could not act on unverified reports.
He stressed that the APC is guided by due process and would obey lawful instructions once properly communicated by the national leadership.
The Federal High Court in Akure had earlier restrained the party from conducting the March 3, 2026 state congress. The court also set aside the ward and local government congresses held on February 18 and 21.
In the ex parte order delivered by Justice Toyin Adegoke, both the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission were barred from proceeding with the congress pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
The action was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, representing aggrieved members led by Lawrence Adebayo and several others who questioned the legitimacy of the earlier congresses.
Justice Adegoke further directed the parties to maintain the situation as it was before the disputed congresses, cautioning against steps that could undermine the pending application for interlocutory injunction.
Meanwhile, tensions within the party escalated after violence broke out during the ward congress in Idanre Local Government Area, resulting in two fatalities and multiple injuries. Police confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects, while the party’s secretariat in Akure was earlier attacked, leaving the state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, injured.
