Eight aggrieved aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have approached the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain the party from proceeding with disciplinary actions against them pending the determination of their substantive suit.
The applicants, Asuquo Ndiana Okon, Uko Asian Johnson, Kennedy Matthew Akpan, Effiong Victor Bassey, Nsunwara Blessing Okon, Noah Samuel Okon, Nyoho Samson Jackson and Dr. Godwin Udo Umontuen, filed the motion in Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/104/2026.
The respondents in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC), the APC Akwa Ibom State Screening/Appeal Committee, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the motion, the applicants are asking the court to restrain the 1st to 3rd respondents, their officers, agents, representatives, disciplinary committees, proxies or any person acting on their behalf from suspending, expelling or imposing any disciplinary sanctions on them pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.
According to the applicants, after filing the suit challenging the party’s actions concerning the selection and nomination of candidates for the 2027 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly election, the APC allegedly constituted a disciplinary committee with the intention of suspending or expelling them over issues directly related to the pending litigation.
The applicants contend that allowing the disciplinary process to continue while the substantive suit remains before the court would amount to self-help and an attempt to overreach the judicial process. They further argue that any suspension or expulsion before the conclusion of the case would irreparably affect their political rights, reputation and eligibility to participate in party affairs.
Through their counsel, Gideon Willie Esq., the applicants relied on several judicial authorities, including Kotoye v. Central Bank of Nigeria, Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu, Obeya Memorial Hospital v. Attorney-General of the Federation, Globe Fishing Industries Ltd. v. Coker, and Akapo v. Hakeem-Habeeb, as well as the provisions of Order 26 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
The applicants urged the court to preserve the status quo by granting the interlocutory injunction pending the determination of the substantive suit, maintaining that the balance of convenience favours preserving their legal rights until the court decides the matter.
The suit forms part of the ongoing legal challenge instituted by the eight APC aspirants over the party’s nomination process for the 2027 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly election.
