The court had earlier issued an order stopping the conduct of the congresses in the state, but the APC went ahead with the exercise.
However, aggrieved members of the party, who secured the order, returned to court asking for nullification of the party congresses.
Justice Godswill Obomanu, after listening to the presentations and submissions of the counsel, nullified the congresses of the party.
The judge expressed dismay that the party went ahead with the congresses after a court had ordered that status quo be maintained on the matter.
The court stayed further proceedings in the matter and adjourned it indefinitely.
But in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of the Okocha led APC, Chibuike Ikenga, said the judgment was expected, saying Justice Obomanu was a kinsman of the state Governor, Siminakayi Fubara.
Ikenga accused Justice Obomanu of doing a hatchet job for the governor.
He stated, “It was expected, putting into consideration that Justice Obomanu hails from the same place as the Governor of Rivers State.
“There are some collaborators of the APC in Rivers State who have aligned with Governor Fubara to see that this party is suffocated. But this is not the final court. This is the court of first instance.
“Unfortunately, the Rivers State High Court under Justice Obomanu is sitting on appeal in a case that is already being addressed by the Court of Appeal.
“So, there is no problem, we are law abiding citizens with obedience to the rule of law. We are already putting our papers together to head to the appeal court to challenge and test it.”
Meanwhile, a High Court in Edo State has ordered the restoration of the 18 local council chairmen suspended from office by the state House of Assembly.
The court, presided by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, issued the order on Friday, December 20, 2024 while ruling on a suit filed by the 18 council chairmen and the state chapter of Association of Local Governments in Nigeria, ALGON.
The defendants are Edo State Government, the Governor and his Deputy, the Attorney-General and Accountant-General of the state, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The judge granted the applicants’ prayers by restraining the defendants from acting on the resolution of the Edo State House of Assembly suspending the claimants.
The court also ordered that the status quo as at December 12, 2024 be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on December 12, 2024.
The judge adjourned the suit to February 17, 2025, for hearing and ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the defendants.
It could be recalled that the Edo State House of Assembly had suspended the 18 LG chairmen and their deputies over alleged misconduct and insubordination.
The lawmakers took the decision following a petition filed against the LG chairmen by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Okpebholo had in the petition, accused the local council bosses of insubordination for failing to submit their LGAs’ financial statements to him.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had faulted the suspension of the LG chairmen, describing it as unconstitutional.
