Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress scheduled for Tuesday will proceed despite a Federal High Court order restraining the process.

The court, presided over by Justice Toyin Adegoke, issued an ex parte order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC from conducting the congress after an application was filed by aggrieved party members.

Aiyedatiwa addressed party leaders at a late-night stakeholders’ meeting in Akure on Monday, shortly after the ruling. He said the party chapter is not divided and dismissed perceptions of crisis as exaggerated.

Recent internal disputes within the party have led to violence in some instances. Three people were reportedly killed during the ward congress, while the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, and other officials were attacked and injured at a previous meeting.

The governor said tensions portrayed on social media do not reflect reality. He described disagreements ahead of internal elections as normal political competition rather than conflict.

“Once the winner emerges… everybody will come together. There will be push and pull, which is normal, but we are not at war,” he said, adding that the party’s internal process reflects a “peaceful and united” chapter.

Isaacs Kekemeke, the APC National Vice Chairman (South West), said the national secretariat had not formally communicated any change regarding the congress. He maintained that there is no rancour within the party structure.

The APC leadership is expected to determine whether the court order will affect the scheduled congress as legal and political discussions continue.