A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) from proceeding with its planned national convention until the case against the party pending before the court is heard and determined.
The plaintiff in the suit marked FHC/HC/CV/2958/2021, Salisu Umoru dragged the party (APC), the Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC before the court to challenge the planned convention.
In the motion number FCT/HC/M/9655/21, the plaintiff prayed the court for an order interlocutory injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants, allies, agency, representative, associates or whoever is acting for them or through them from organising, holding or conducting a National Convention of the All Progressives Congress in January and February or at any other date either before or after pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
After listening to counsel in the matter, justice Bello Kawu of the court, granted the order and restrained the party from going ahead with the convention and also warned that the subject matter of the case is now subjudice and must nor be tampered with.
Already, a contempt application has been file before the court against the March 26 national convention of the party.
The claimant informed the court that the mere inauguration of sub-committees for the March 26 National Convention when the order of the honourable court is in force is a demonstration of disdain for the rule of law in the country.
While 30th March, 2022 was fixed for the continuation of hearing of the substantive suit, no date has been fixed for the commencement of contempt proceedings against the APC.
The claimant also commended INEC for standing by the provisions of the law and the order of the court which is still in force.