Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court, sitting in Akure has restrained the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with the State Congress, slated for tomorrow, 3rd March, 2026 pending the determination of a substantive suit.
BusinessDay reports that the planned congress was halted following an ex parte application filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedayo Adedeji, on behalf of aggrieved party members led by Lawrence Adebayo and 7,427 others.
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The Ondo APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye had earlier announced March 3rd, as the date for its state Congress, saying the exercise was approved by its National Working Committee (NWC).
“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 said.
Justice Adegoke, however, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC and the APC from “acknowledging, accepting, recognising or giving effect to the purported ward and local government congresses conducted on February 18 and 21, 2026, and the proposed state congress scheduled for March 3, 2026, or any other date.”
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The court further ordered that the APC, its officers and agents should not “conduct, hold, proceed with or conclude any state congress in Ondo State” pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
In addition, Justice Adegoke directed the parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum” before the conduct of the ward and local government congresses, warning that no further steps should be taken to prejudice the determination of the suit.
The court fixed March 26, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive matter.
