Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against APC Leaders Amid Leadership Dispute

Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order Against APC Leaders Amid Leadership Dispute

The High Court has issued a temporary injunction halting senior officials of the All People’s Congress (APC) from performing leadership duties and managing party affairs.

The ruling also restricts the party itself and the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) from taking any action related to the current leadership structure.

Justice Adrian Fisher granted the interim order on Friday, August 28, 2026, following a legal challenge filed by Alfred Peter Conteh and Mohamed Sheridan Kamara. The case targets prominent APC figures, including Alhaji Osman Foday Yansanneh and Lansana Dumbuya, as well as the party and the PPRC. The dispute concerns the legitimacy and tenure of the APC’s National Executive, which has been under scrutiny since recent leadership changes.

Under the court’s order, Yansanneh and Dumbuya are prohibited from engaging in activities associated with their official roles within the APC. This includes functions typically reserved for the National Chairman and Leader, and the National Secretary General. Justice Fisher’s ruling also mandates that they must refrain from participating in or overseeing the party’s daily operations until the case is resolved or further court orders are issued.

The injunction extends to all current members of the APC’s 2022 National Executive. These individuals are barred from presenting themselves as official executives, attending or convening executive meetings, or executing duties reserved for the party leadership.

The order aims to prevent any further actions that could alter or influence the party’s current leadership status.

In addition, Justice Fisher suspended all activities undertaken by the current APC executive starting from August 19, 2026. This suspension will remain in effect until the court concludes its hearing and issues a final ruling on the case.

The judge also warned the involved parties and anyone covered by the order against violating its terms, and directed that the costs of the application be awarded as costs in the cause.

The legal proceedings originate from an Originating Notice of Motion filed on August 17, 2026, in which Conteh and Kamara seek declarations regarding the tenure and authority of the APC’s National Executive. Among their requests, they argue that the terms of office for key leadership positions—including the National Chairman, Secretary General, and other senior officials—expired on February 13, 2026.

The plaintiffs challenge the legality of a six-month extension granted to the outgoing APC National Executive and the subsequent transfer of managerial authority within the party. They contend that while the extension might have been legally valid initially, subsequent actions to transfer control to another body violate the APC’s 2022 Constitution. They assert that the law and the party’s constitution must be followed in any management transfer or extension.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that the continued occupation of key APC offices by Yansanneh and Dumbuya violates provisions of the party’s 2022 Constitution, specifically Articles 52(a) and (b). The core legal issue revolves around whether the extension of the National Executive’s tenure and the ongoing control of leadership offices comply with the party’s constitutional requirements.

The court’s interim injunction does not resolve the substantive issues raised in the case. 

The matter remains pending before the High Court, where both parties are expected to present their arguments before a final decision is made.