The leadership crisis within the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has taken a new turn as Musibau Olayiwola, who describes himself as the elected Southwest Zonal Chairman of the party, has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, seeking an interim injunction to stop the party’s National/General Convention scheduled to hold in Bauchi on August 12 and 13, 2026.
Olayiwola, in a suit filed before the Ibadan Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, is challenging what he described as the alleged refusal of the party’s national leadership to issue him a nomination form for the ratification of his position at the forthcoming convention.
The defendants named in the suit are the Allied Peoples Movement; its National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle; its National Secretary, Oyadeyi Ayodele Adebayo; the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the National Convention; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In an affidavit of extreme urgency filed in support of his application, Olayiwola stated that he was elected Southwest Zonal Chairman at the party’s congress held on May 23, 2026.
According to the applicant, the party’s guidelines require elected officers to obtain nomination forms to enable their positions to be ratified at the National Convention.
He alleged that after his election, he approached the party’s national leadership for the nomination form but was unsuccessful.
Olayiwola further claimed that, despite repeated efforts to obtain the form, he was eventually informed that he could no longer obtain it.
The court document quoted him as saying: “Without the nomination form, my position as democratically elected Zonal Chairman of Southwest will not be ratified.”
He argued that failure to ratify his position would affect his claimed right to participate fully in the affairs of the party.
Olayiwola also alleged that the nomination form intended for him had been given to another individual who, according to him, did not participate in the Southwest Zonal Congress and was not elected as Zonal Chairman.
The applicant maintained that such an action would be inconsistent with the APM Constitution and the guidelines governing the party’s congresses.
He told the court that the Southwest Congress was conducted peacefully and that the results were declared after the exercise, with him emerging as Zonal Chairman.
He further stated that copies of the results and accompanying report were forwarded to INEC.
Olayiwola has consequently asked the court to intervene before the scheduled convention, arguing that allowing the exercise to proceed without resolving the dispute could affect his claim to the office.
Olayiwola seeks injunction against APM, INEC
In the motion ex parte, the applicant asked the Federal High Court to grant an interim injunction restraining the first to fourth defendants, their agents, privies, associates or anyone acting through them from proceeding with the National/General Convention scheduled for August 12 and 13 in Bauchi, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
He also asked the court to restrain INEC from attending or monitoring the convention pending the determination of the application.
The applicant argued that the matter was urgent because of the proximity of the convention and the possibility that his grievance could become more difficult to remedy if the exercise proceeded before the substantive dispute was determined.
In his affidavit, Olayiwola stated that if his position was not ratified at the convention, his claimed right to occupy the office into which he said he was elected would be affected.
He also alleged that the party was seeking to replace elected officers with individuals who, according to him, did not emerge through the prescribed congress process.
The document quoted him as saying that “imposition of candidate as officers of the party executives is no longer allowed under our laws.”
Applicant cites democratic principles
In their written address in support of the application, Olayiwola’s lawyers argued that political parties are required to conduct their internal affairs in accordance with applicable laws and democratic principles.
Counsel relied on several judicial authorities on the principles governing interlocutory injunctions, including Obeya Memorial Specialist Hospital v. Attorney-General of the Federation, Kotoye v. CBN, CBN v. S.A.P. Nigeria Ltd., Akapo v. Hakeem-Habeeb and Effion v. Iron Bar.
The lawyers submitted that their client had demonstrated a legal right capable of protection and that there was a serious issue to be tried.
They also argued that damages would not constitute adequate compensation if the convention proceeded and another person was subsequently recognised or installed in the disputed position.
According to the written address, the applicant could face difficulty seeking the same position again if the alleged violation occurred before the court determined the substantive suit.
The lawyers therefore urged the court to preserve the status quo pending the determination of the substantive case.
Convention faces legal challenge
The suit comes as the APM prepares for its National/General Convention in Bauchi.
The court process has brought the party’s internal electoral and administrative procedures, particularly the recognition and ratification of officers emerging from its zonal congresses, before the court for consideration.
Olayiwola has also given an undertaking as to damages in the event that the court ultimately finds that the application was frivolous or that any interim order granted should not have been made.
However, the allegations contained in the affidavit remain the claims of the applicant and have not been determined by the court.
The court documents reviewed for this report do not establish that the allegations against the APM leadership, INEC or any of the other defendants have been proved.
The legal action therefore raises questions over the recognition of the Southwest zonal leadership and the processes leading to the party’s forthcoming National/General Convention.
With the August 12–13 convention approaching, attention is now on the Federal High Court in Ibadan and its decision on Olayiwola’s request for interim relief.
