BREAKING:Court Grants Stay of Execution,Restores Sen.Emma Anosike as Anambra APC Chairman

Senator Emma Anosike

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted a stay of execution of its earlier judgment that removed Senator Emma Anosike as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, effectively restoring him to office pending the determination of the appeal and other relevant legal processes.
The court’s decision followed arguments that Senator Anosike and other principal officers of the Anambra APC were not joined as parties in the suit that led to their removal, despite the judgment directly affecting their positions.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, had earlier delivered the judgment recognising the faction led by Chief Ifeanyichukwu Osegbo as the substantive State Working Committee (SWC) of the party. However, in its latest ruling, the court granted a stay of execution of that judgment, allowing Senator Anosike to continue as the duly elected State Chairman.
The dispute originated from a suit filed by the Osegbo-led faction seeking judicial recognition as the legitimate executive of the Anambra APC. The suit was opposed by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which challenged both the legitimacy of the claims and the composition of the plaintiffs.
Following the initial judgment, the Anambra APC rejected the ruling, describing it as a “kangaroo judgment.” The party alleged that some individuals listed as plaintiffs were unaware that their names had been included in the suit and claimed that their identities were used without their knowledge or consent.
The party further argued that Senator Emma Anosike, the State Chairman, and the State Secretary, Mr. Obi Okpala, were not joined as defendants despite being principal officers whose positions were directly affected by the judgment. According to the party, the omission violated their constitutional right to fair hearing and rendered the judgment unenforceable against them.
Acting on the strength of the earlier judgment, members of the Osegbo faction reportedly took control of the APC state secretariat in Awka, assumed occupancy of the party offices, and held meetings while asserting leadership of the state chapter.
The latest ruling has reportedly sparked jubilation among supporters of the Anosike-led executive, who described it as a restoration of constitutional leadership and due process within the party.
Speaking with our correspondent by telephone, APC lawyer Douglas Najim alleged that the earlier judgment was obtained through misrepresentation.
According to him, the plaintiffs failed to serve the party and other affected parties with the court processes before obtaining the judgment.
“Some people went to court and obtained what we consider a kangaroo judgment. They misrepresented facts before the court and failed to serve the party and the other affected parties. Judgment was entered in their favour, and they subsequently appealed the same judgment, apparently to frustrate efforts to have it set aside at the High Court. They then proceeded to execute the judgment and took over the party secretariat in Awka,” Najim said.
He explained that the stay of execution granted by the court means Senator Emma Anosike and his executive remain the substantive leadership of the APC in Anambra State pending the determination of the appeal.
“The implication of today’s ruling is that Senator Emma Anosike continues as the substantive Chairman of the party alongside his executive. The stay of execution means the earlier judgment cannot be enforced until the appeal is determined,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Osegbo faction insisted that the substantive judgment removing Anosike remains valid.
In a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Engr. Tony-Uche Ezekwelu, the faction said the Federal High Court struck out Senator Anosike’s application seeking to set aside the judgment that removed him and his executive.
According to Ezekwelu, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the application because the matter is already before the Court of Appeal.
He said the court consequently directed counsel to withdraw the application and advised all parties to pursue the matter at the appellate court.
He, however, acknowledged that the court granted a temporary stay of execution, explaining that the order was made because the report of the execution of the earlier judgment had not been placed before the court.
Ezekwelu added that counsel to the Osegbo faction informed the court that execution of the judgment had already been completed on July 3, 2026, and that the execution report would be formally presented.
He maintained that the stay of execution does not alter the faction’s position.
“Nothing has changed. The Chief Ifeanyichukwu Osegbo-led Anambra State Executive of the APC remains in office. We congratulate APC members in Anambra State,” Ezekwelu stated.
The legal battle over the leadership of the APC in Anambra State is expected to continue at the Court of Appeal, where the substantive issues surrounding the dispute will be determined.