Crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), deepened on Friday as a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo state capital stopped the party from conducting the state congress scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).
Five members of the party in the state, led by Barrister Manchu Augustine, had gone to court to seek an interim order to stop the party from going ahead with the congress pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The presiding Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, said “the respondents are hereby ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the order should not be granted.”
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 Hillary Eke, Chairman of the Ward and Local government congress committee and six others.
“That time is hereby abridged to order that the return date shall be provided that the respondents are served 48 hours before then and that all parties stands adjourned should maintain status quo anti bellium”.
The court adjourned the matter to May 22 for further hearing.
The plaintiffs are seeking an interim injunction to stop the conduct of local government and any other congress pending the determination of the suit.
