The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State will on Wednesday conduct a fresh state congress to elect members of the party’s State Working Committee (SWC).
The exercise is scheduled to take place at the International Culture and Event Centre, popularly known as The Dome, in Akure, with delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state expected to participate.
The decision to organise a fresh congress was conveyed in a statement jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, in a letter addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to a copy of the letter obtained in Akure, the decision followed an order by the Akure Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria restraining both the APC and INEC from conducting the earlier scheduled congress.
The party, however, said the issues that resulted in the court injunction had been resolved, noting that internal mechanisms were activated to address the dispute and pave the way for the new congress.
“You will recall that there was an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Monday, March 2, 2026, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and our party from conducting the state congress earlier scheduled for March 3, 2026.
“Please note that since the order was granted, we have activated our internal mechanisms and have been able to amicably resolve the issues leading to the ex-parte order by the Federal High Court.
“Consequently, the congress for Ondo State will now hold on March 11, 2026, by 10:00 a.m. at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), Akure the the letter read.
A former spokesman of the party in the state, Alex Kalejaye, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
A text message sent for reaction was not immediately replied.
However, a party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the authenticity of the letter, saying party leaders across the state had been invited to attend the congress.
“It’s true. A fresh congress will hold. I have been invited as a party leader from Akoko, and I will be coming with my people to participate,” he said.
He added that party leaders and stakeholders from across the state were expected to attend the exercise aimed at producing new executives to oversee the affairs of the ruling party in Ondo State.
The party also apologised for any inconvenience the change of date might cause and urged the electoral body to take note of the development.
The fresh congress is coming amid legal disputes surrounding the conduct of the party’s congresses in the state, which prompted the court to direct all parties to maintain the status quo pending further hearing.
Recall that the court had earlier restrained INEC from acknowledging, accepting, recognising or validating the ward and local government congresses allegedly conducted by the APC in the state.
Justice Toyin Adegoke granted the interim order while ruling on a Motion Ex-Parte filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The suit, marked FHC/AK/CS/25/2016, was instituted by Lawrence Oladimeji Adebayo and seven other applicants, who said they were suing for themselves and on behalf of 7,427 APC members in Ondo State allegedly excluded from the party’s 2026 ward and local government congresses.
Joined as respondents in the suit are INEC and the APC.
The applicants are challenging the ward congress held on February 18, 2026, and the local government congress conducted on February 21, 2026. They also opposed the state congress earlier scheduled for March 3, 2026.
Despite the court order, the APC went ahead with its state congress where Babatunde Kolawole, Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Legislative Matters and Party Affairs, emerged as the party’s chairman in the state.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
