The All Progressives Congress, (APC) State Congress scheduled to hold across the country will not hold in Imo state. Certain aggrieved chieftains of the party have obtained an injunction restraining the party from going ahead with the process.
Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal high court sitting in Owerri, the Imo state capital on Friday issued an interim order, stopping the APC from conducting the exercise.
In the interim order, five chieftains of the ruling party have approached the Court, seeking an interim order to stop the party from going ahead with the congress pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The plaintiff in the case are Barrister Manchu Augustine, Anumhinu China Jude, Akudinobi Umunna, Ekwebelum Sammy Kelechi and Joseph Ilechukwu, while the respondents are the APC, INEC, the National Organising Secretary of the party, the state chairman of the party, Chief Hilary Eke, Chairman of the Ward and Local government congress committee and six others.
Presiding Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa said it is hereby ordered that “the respondents are hereby ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show the court why the order should not be granted.
“That time is hereby abridged to order that the return date shall be provided that the respondents are served 48hours before then and that all parties stand adjourned should maintain status quo anti bellium”.
The court adjourned the matter to next Tuesday, 22nd May for further hearing.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an interim injunction to stop the conduct of local government and any other congress pending the determination of the suit.
Tribune online checks revealed that the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha have been engaged in a power tussle for the control of the party structures with a group, Imo State APC stakeholders ahead of 2019 general elections. Governor Okorocha has insisted that no ward and local government congresses were conducted in the State despite the report of the appeal panel led by Senator Tature which affirmed conduct of ward and state congresses in Imo state.
