By Jeremiah Archibong and Jonathan Ugbal

Despite a court injunction stopping the state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River, former factional chairman, Mr. Matthew Achigbe has emerged winner of yesterday's rescheduled congress.

Achigbe emerged during a rescheduled state Congress which held at the Nkonib brothers club house, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

The rescheduled congress was on the directive of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC due to the crisis that led to the party producing two factional executives from different congresses. The NWC had earlier dissolved the state executive.

A former acting chairman of the party, Mr. John Ochalla emerged the deputy state chairman while the secretary of the dissolved state executive, Bishop Victor Ebong was reelected all through voice votes.

However, Niger Delta Affairs minister, Usani Usani and former factional chairman, Etim John were absent at the congress.

And, the trouble may be far from over as a federal high court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice O. A Musa had restrained the NWC from conducting any elections pending the determination of the applicable suit.

The Guardian Newspaper had reported that Justice Musa gave the injunction in a suit between APC chieftain, Sylvester Okpo from Cross River South Senatorial district, vice chairman, Regina Takon, ex-officio ember and youths leader, Charles Asim, who are plaintiffs in the matter, and APC Nigeria as defendant.

The ruling stated: “An order is hereby made restraining the defendant either by itself, any committee, privies by whatever name called, or any organ of the party except national convention, from purporting to nullify the congress of the Cross River State, of the defendant.”

He urged the APC not to, in any manner interfere, suspend or breach the rights and privileges of the claimants as the state executive officers.

The judge extended the order to other local government and ward officers of the party in the state, pending the determination of the substantive case in the originating summons.

He said: “It is hereby ordered that the time with which the defendant may enter appearances and file defence is abridged to 14 days from service of the originating process.

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