Court Halts Ondo APC Congress Amid Rising Tensions

On Monday, March 3, 2026, Justice Toyin Adegok of the Federal High Court in Akure issued an order to restrain the All Progressives Congress (APC) from conducting its planned state congress. The ruling came after an ex parte application was filed by senior advocate Adedayo Adedeji on behalf of aggrieved party member Lawrence Adebayo and 7,427 others.

The court directed the APC not to proceed with the congress until the motion is heard, which is scheduled for March 26. This judicial intervention follows heightened tensions and violence surrounding the party's ward congress held on February 17, where armed thugs reportedly attacked APC's caretaker chairman in Ondo State, Adetimehin, during a stakeholders' meeting.

Governor Lucki Aiyedatiwa denied any involvement in the violence, which escalated further on February 18, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries at the APC ward congress in Idanr Local Government Area. The situation has deepened the crisis within the Ondo APC, with rival factions accusing each other of attempting to control the party's structure ahead of future political contests.