Court Bars APC, INEC from Removing Eba as C’River Chairman

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from removing or sidelining the Cross River State Chairman of the party, Alphonsus Ogar Eba.

Justice J. E. Obanor, made the order  yesterday, December 18, while delivering ruling in an exparte application brought by Eba. The suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/5197/2025, has the APC, Mr. Ekum Ekok Ojogu, Mr. Patrick Asikpo Okon and INEC as 1st to 4th defendants.

The claimant had through his counsel, Ayotunde Ogunleye (SAN), sought the court’s protection from what he described as an unlawful resolution to prevent him from carrying out his duties as the APC chairman in Cross River State.

Ruling in the application, Justice Obanor held that the case of the applicant is meritorious and subsequently made an order restraining the defendants, either by themselves. 

 Their agents or privies, from giving effect to or continuing to give effect to the said resolution, particularly any action that would prevent Eba from performing his responsibilities as the state chairman of the APC pending the determination of the substantive motion before the court.

Justice Obanor also barred the defendants from stopping the claimant from attending the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, December 19, 2025, as well as any other party meetings he is entitled to attend during the subsistence of his tenure or any extension granted by the party’s 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 the tenure of the claimant subsists.

The court equally directed all the defendants to refrain from initiating, deliberating upon or taking any action or decision capable of adversely affecting Eba’s position or rights as the duly recognised chairman of the party in the state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Justice Obanor, after reviewing the processes filed before the court, held that there was sufficient reason 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, and the orders are made as prayed, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice,” the judge ruled.

The judge subsequently adjourned to January 22, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.