Federal High Court Declares Senator Samuel Anyanwu Valid PDP National Secretary

In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the valid National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, issued an injunction restraining the national leadership of the PDP from appointing any person as acting national secretary while Anyanwu’s four-year tenure remains in effect until December 9, 2025, in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Furthermore, Justice Ekwo declared that any attempt by the party to prematurely remove or prevent Anyanwu from exercising his powers would contravene Article 47 (1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and thus be null and void.

The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognize any purported appointment of a national secretary other than Anyanwu.

This ruling follows a previous order by the court on November 23, 2023, which restrained the PDP from removing Anyanwu as national secretary pending the outcome of the substantive matter.

The order was based on an ex-parte motion by Dr. Joshua Musa, SAN, representing two PDP members, Geoffrey Ihentuge and Apollo’s Godspower, from Imo State.

Ihentuge, the Ikeduru Local Government chairman of the PDP, and Godspower, the PDP chairman in Owerri Municipal Local Government, sought five reliefs, including an interim injunction to prevent the party’s leadership from removing Anyanwu from office before the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

They argued that Anyanwu was duly elected on December 10, 2021, and is entitled to remain in office until December 9, 2025, as per the party’s constitution.

This ruling by the Federal High Court has significant implications for the leadership and stability of the PDP, as it affirms Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s position as the party’s National Secretary until December 2025.