Court restrains APC, INEC from removing Eba as Cross River chairman
By Bassey BASSEY
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has restrained the All Progressives Congress, APC, Cross River State chapter, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other respondents from implementing a resolution allegedly removing and impeaching the party’s state chairman, Mr Alphonsus Eba.
Justice J. E. Obanor of Court 26, Jabi, Abuja, made the order in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/5197/2025 dated December 18, 2025, following an ex parte motion filed by Eba through his counsel, Mr Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN.
Eba had approached the court seeking protection from what he described as an unlawful resolution dated November 26, 2025, which allegedly sought to prevent him from performing his duties as APC chairman in Cross River State.
In granting the application, the court restrained the defendants, either by themselves, their agents or privies, from implementing or continuing to implement the said resolution or taking any action capable of hindering Eba from carrying out his functions as state chairman, pending the determination of the substantive motion before the court.
Justice Obanor also barred the defendants from preventing Eba from attending the APC National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025, as well as any other party meetings he is entitled to attend during his tenure or any extension granted by the NEC.
In a further order, the court restrained the second defendant, Mr Ekum Ekok Ojogu, or any other person, from parading himself as the Acting State Chairman of the APC in Cross River State while Eba’s tenure subsists.
The court also directed all defendants to refrain from initiating, discussing or taking any action or making any decision that could adversely affect Eba’s position or rights as the duly recognised state chairman of the party, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
In his ruling, Justice Obanor held that there were sufficient grounds to grant the interim reliefs sought by the claimant.
“Having gone through all the processes before the court and being satisfied as to the need to grant the interim orders sought, Motion No. M/16959/2025 is hereby granted as prayed, pending the determination of the motion on notice,” the judge ruled.
The matter was adjourned to January 22, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
