INEC Urges Court to Recuse Itself from Senator Anyanwu’s Suit

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to recuse itself from the suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu challenging his removal as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a counter-affidavit filed in opposition to the suit, INEC argued that it would be in the interest of justice for all parties to await the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter, as an appeal is already pending before the apex court.

A 10-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Mohammed Ayuba on behalf of INEC stated that, in accordance with its regulations, guidelines, and manuals, any official correspondence between the electoral body and political parties must be signed by both the National Chairman and National Secretary of the respective party.

INEC told the court that it had deliberately refrained from commenting on the case, stating:

“The 1st defendant did not intend to join issues with the plaintiff, pending the determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.”

The electoral body also contended that the court lacked jurisdiction over matters concerning the internal affairs of political parties.

During the resumed proceedings, INEC’s counsel, Ahmed Mohammed, drew the court’s attention to the counter-affidavit filed against Senator Anyanwu’s suit on March 7.

Similarly, other defendants in the case filed preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit.

Meanwhile, Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu, who has been endorsed by the PDP as Anyanwu’s replacement, told the court that all parties had already submitted their arguments before the Supreme Court.

He maintained that Anyanwu ceased to be PDP National Secretary following concurrent judgments of the High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu.

He further explained that while Anyanwu was elected to a four-year term at the PDP National Convention on October 30, 2021, he lost the position after being nominated as the party’s candidate for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.

Citing the PDP Constitution, Udeh-Okoye pointed out that Article 47(5) requires any party officer seeking elective office to resign, while Article 47(6) allows for a replacement from the same zone to complete the tenure.

He added that the PDP Board of Trustees, in a letter dated October 12, 2023, had notified the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, of the constitutional breach following Anyanwu’s refusal to vacate the office.

The case continues.