APC stops ward congress in Bayelsa over Court injunction

The Bayelsa State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its ward congress scheduled for today over the injunction by the State High Court.

Some aggrieved members of the APC in Bayelsa State, Ompadec Victor, Esuenifen Obi and Seimiegha Ebibofe Agbozu had filed a suit seeking the court’s interim injunction stopping the conduct of the ward congress in the State.

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A Bayelsa State High Court presided over by Enekinimi Uzaka, in a judgment on Friday ordered a stop to the proposed congress pending the determination of the motion of notice before the court.

The court however adjourned the matter to the 9th of August for the hearing of the motion before it.

But the Caretaker Secretary of APC in Bayelsa State, Mr Alabo Martins, in a statement on Saturday, urged all party faithful to remain calm and united as the party was taking proactive steps to address the court injunction stopping its congresses.

While condemning the actions of some people he described as ‘Unscrupulous element’ who is disguising as party members in the day, but Judases at night, with the sole aim to cause tension and disunity due to their selfish ambitions, he urged the party faithful to keep faith with the party.

He promised that the party was ready to tackle the matter head-on and create a stronger APC.

He noted that as a law-abiding party, the APC would not take laws into its hands by going contrary to the Court injunction as any unguided moves would jeopardize the effort the party had made so far.

He called on those who genuinely have the interest of the party at heart to stay calm and focused during the challenging time, assuring that any existing litigation would be dealt with before proceeding on the Congress to ensure a smooth and hitch-free process.

He warned that the party would not hesitate to take decisive measures against anyone who deliberately sabotages the effort of the APC in Bayelsa and the scheduled Congresses as the leadership had come a long way in repositioning the party.

The APC secretary urged aggrieved members to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters at the party secretariat.

Also, Mr Ebierien Fala Itubor, the factional Chairman of the party loyal to a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who is planning to conduct a parallel congress, said he will not go on with the exercise due to the Court injunction.