By Emma Una
An Abuja High Court has restrained the All Progressives Congress, APC and members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party and their agents from conducting any ward, local government or state congress in Cross River State pending the determination of the suit by some party chieftains.
Plaintiffs in the matter are Sylvester Okpo, APC Southern Senatorial Vice Chairman, Regina Takon, APC ex-officio and Charles Esasim, APC State Youth Leader as plaintiffs, while APC is the defendant.
Trial judge, Justice O. A. Musa, Monday restrained the defendant either by itself, any committee, privies or any organ of the party, except national convention, from nullifying the congresses held in Cross River State or in any manner, interfere, suspend or breach the rights and privileges of the claimants as the state executive officers or other local government and ward officers of the APC in the state pending the determination of the substantive case in the originating summons.
The court further said, “It is hereby ordered that the time with which the defendant may enter appearances and file defense is abridged to 14 days from service of the originating process.”
Justice Musa also granted an order for accelerated hearing of the matter and further hearing in the matter till October 25, 2018.
Reacting to the case, Mr Francis Ekpeyong, State Secretary of APC, confirmed the injunction slammed on the party by the court following a suit by some party members, adding that some persons were trying to annul the congress which elected the present executive three months ago.
“We are happy that the judge had granted an injunction restraining them and their agents from conducting any purported congress in the state with less than fifteen days to party congress,” he said.
Ekpeyong appealed to aggrieved members to obey the court order and avoid crisis in the party while preparing for nomination of flag bearers for the 2019 elections.
