In a significant turn of events, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is set to proceed with its state congress tomorrow, March 3, 2026, despite a Federal High Court ruling that granted an interim injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC from recognising or acting on the outcome of recent ward and local government congresses.
The court order, issued on March 2, 2026, by Justice T.B. Adegoke, followed an ex-parte application filed by aggrieved APC members who alleged exclusion from the party’s congresses. The plaintiffs, led by Lawrence Oladimeji Adebayo and eight other applicants, represented a collective of 7,427 APC members claiming that their rights were violated in the conduct of the party’s congresses.
The injunction prohibits INEC from acknowledging the congresses conducted on February 18 and 21, and it also restricts the APC from holding the planned state congress until the case is resolved. In response to the court’s ruling, Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, the South-West National Vice Chairman of the APC, has insisted that the Ondo State chapter will move forward with the congress as scheduled, dismissing reports of crisis and the alleged court orders circulating on social media.
Kekemeke stated, “We are not relying on any social media court order. The National Secretariat has not given any directive regarding any alleged order. These are very serious matters.” He urged party members to dismiss online speculation suggesting discord within the state chapter, asserting that disagreements are common in political contexts but should not be perceived as conflict.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa echoed these sentiments, describing the reports of internal strife as exaggerated. Both leaders spoke during an APC leadership and stakeholders meeting in Akure, seeking to present a united front amid the turmoil.
The ongoing unrest within the Ondo APC may be attributed to a power struggle between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as both factions vie for control over the party’s structure in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
Amidst this backdrop, Comrade Ogonna Obiekwe, Chairman of the APC State Congress Committee, affirmed the committee’s commitment to conducting a credible congress that aligns with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines. He outlined the process for the congress, including the accreditation of delegates, which will commence at designated centres across the state.
As the APC prepares for the congress tomorrow, the implications of the court’s injunction and the underlying power dynamics within the party will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in Ondo State as the party heads into a crucial electoral period
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