Just-in: Court halts INC election as Igbadiwei secures injunction in Rivers

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Ijaw National Congress (INC) from conducting its 2026 national election earlier scheduled for March 7, 2026.

The order followed a suit filed by High Chief (Barr.) MacDonald Igbadiwei challenging the process leading to the planned election.

In a ruling delivered on Friday, March 6, 2026, in Suit No. PHC/719/CS/2026, the presiding judge, Justice S. H. Aprioku, granted an interim order restraining the defendants from conducting the election on the scheduled date or on any other date pending the resolution of the dispute.

The court further restrained the defendants, their agents, servants and any persons acting on their behalf from proceeding with the election until the matter is resolved through the organisation’s Internal Dispute Resolution Committee within seven days or until the court determines the motion on notice.

The claimant, High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei, had approached the court to challenge the actions of the INC Electoral Committee and other parties involved in organising the election.

Those listed as defendants in the suit include members of the INC Electoral Committee led by Justice Francis Fedode Tabai (Rtd), alongside other committee members who were sued both in their personal and official capacities.

Justice Aprioku also directed that if the parties successfully resolve the dispute through the organisation’s internal mechanism, the court may abridge the time for hearing the matter.

However, the court ruled that if the internal resolution process fails, the case will proceed before the court, with all pending applications scheduled to be heard and determined on March 18, 2026.

Counsel to the claimant, Dr. Uche Ejike Ogwudu, appeared in court alongside Boma Wariboko and Uzondu Ekwueme, while Celestine I. Nwani represented the INC during the proceedings.

The ruling has effectively halted preparations for the INC national election until the legal dispute is resolved