BY SOLOMON OKPO
A High Court of Akwa Ibom State sitting in the Oruk Anam Judicial Division has halted the enforcement of the controversial suspension imposed on the Spokesperson to the President of the Senate, Eseme Eyiboh, pending the determination of a substantive motion before the court.
The order was issued by Hon. Justice Nkereuwem M. Obot in Suit No. HOA/12/2026 on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The court directed that the suspension should not be implemented until the matter comes up for hearing on June 22, 2026.
According to the ruling, the 1st Defendant/Respondent, the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, “shall not give effect to the publication made by the 2nd to 21st Defendants/Respondents on the 22nd day of April, 2026,” thereby freezing the disputed suspension process.
Those listed as 2nd to 21st Defendants/Respondents are individuals claiming leadership positions within APC Ward 9 in Esit Eket Local Government Area who allegedly endorsed the suspension resolution against Eyiboh.
The court action followed arguments presented by counsel to the Plaintiff/Applicant, Prophet Edet Ben, who challenged the legitimacy of the suspension exercise circulated on social media.
Prophet Ben accused those behind the action of fraudulently using his identity in documents linked to the purported suspension.
The latest court intervention marks another dramatic twist in the lingering controversy that has unsettled the APC structure in Esit Eket Ward 9 and intensified internal disagreements within the party.
Earlier reports indicated that Prophet Ben, an Ex-Officio member of the ward, swore under oath that no ward meeting was held on April 22, 2026, to deliberate on or approve the suspension of Eyiboh or any other party member.
He further denied signing any attendance register or endorsing any suspension letter allegedly forwarded to party authorities.
The development triggered allegations of forgery, impersonation and manipulation of party processes, with Prophet Ben demanding a public retraction and apology over the alleged unauthorized use of his name and signature, while also threatening legal action.
The purported suspension of Eyiboh had generated outrage among party faithful and political stakeholders, particularly as the former federal lawmaker was accused of anti-party activities despite openly mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno.
A political pressure group, Ward Nine New Era (WNNE), had also described the suspension as “malicious, baseless and void,” insisting that due process was ignored and questioning why Eyiboh was singled out while other prominent stakeholders from Esit Eket who attended the same political gathering were not sanctioned.
Observers believe the court’s intervention may now escalate the matter into a wider legal battle involving allegations of forgery and impersonation.
With the suspension now restrained by the court and legal scrutiny intensifying, the controversy has continued to cast a shadow over the APC in Esit Eket Ward 9, raising fresh concerns over credibility and internal party processes.
