The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or validating the Ward and Local Government Congresses allegedly conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.
Justice T.B. Adegoke granted the interim order on Monday while ruling on a Motion Ex-Parte filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The suit, marked FHC/AK/CS/25/2016, was instituted by Lawrence Oladimeji Adebayo and seven other applicants, who sued for themselves and on behalf of 7,427 APC members in Ondo State said to have been excluded from the 2026 congresses.
Joined as respondents in the suit are INEC and the APC.
The applicants are challenging the Ward and Local Government Congresses purportedly held on February 18 and 21, 2026, as well as the planned State Congress scheduled for March 3, 2026.
After hearing counsel to the applicants, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, who led Mustapha I. Abubakar, SAN, alongside other lawyers, and upon reviewing the affidavit of extreme urgency and supporting exhibits, the court granted the interim reliefs sought.
In his ruling, Justice Adegoke ordered an interim injunction restraining INEC, its officers and agents from acknowledging, accepting, recognising or validating the Ward and Local Government Congresses conducted in February 2026, including the proposed State Congress.
The court also restrained the APC, its officers and agents from conducting or proceeding with the planned State Congress in Ondo State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
In addition, the judge directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum as it existed before the conduct of the disputed Ward and Local Government Congresses, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 26, 2026, for hearing of the Motion on Notice.
The applicants alleged that the conduct of the congresses breached provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, INEC regulations, as well as the APC Constitution and guidelines.
The interim order was issued under the seal of the court on March 2, 2026.
