The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, fixed April 28 for judgment in a suit filed by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, seeking to stop his removal as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national secretary.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after Anyanwu’s counsel, Ken Njemanze, SAN, and defence lawyers adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit.
Justice Ekwo also ordered Njemanze to make available to the court within seven days of the order the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on Friday.
“I am going to give you a fairly long date for judgment but if the judgment is ready before that date, parties will receive hearing notice,” the judge said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Supreme Court had March 21, set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, delivered on Dec. 20, 2024, which affirmed the removal of Anyanwu as the national secretary of PDP.
In a unanimous judgment by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that matters concerning the leadership or membership of a political party are internal affairs and should not be subject to judicial intervention.
The court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter initially brought by Aniagwu Emmanuel, a member of the party.
However, the judgment, expected to bring an end to the crisis, had left the PDP leadership and members in disarray, as the two main parties in the suit; Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, now claim to be valid national secretary after the apex court decision.
Meanwhile, Anyanwu, in the instant suit, had originally sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagun, the acting National Chairman of PDP, as 1st and 2nd defendants.
In the ex-parte motion: marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025 dated and filed on Feb. 13 by Njemanze, Anyanwu sought two prayers.
He sought an order of interim injunction, restraining INEC from accepting, acting on or giving effect to any correspondence from the PDP not signed by him pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
He also sought an order of interim injunction restraining Damagun from dispatching to INEC any correspondence purportedly emanating from PDP signed by the acting chair and not counter signed by him.
However, the court joined had, on Feb. 28, given an order joining the PDP and Udeh-Okoye in the suit as 3rd and 4th defendants.
The judge equally joined Dr Ali Odela and Mr Setonji Koshoedo as 5th and 6th defendants respectively.
While Odela is said to be the national vice chairman, PDP’s South East, Koshoedo is said to be the deputy national secretary of the party.
Earlier while adopting their processes, Akintayo Balogun, who appeared for Damagun and Odela, including T.J. Aondo, SAN, who appeared for PDP, challenged the jurisdiction of the court.
They urged the court to dismiss Anyanwu’s suit.
Also, Eric Ekeret, who represented the Udeh-Okoye and J.A. Musa who appeared for Koshoedo, prayed the court to grant their relief in the interest of justice.
Ahmed Mohammed, lawyer to the INEC, equally moved their processes in the suit.
The lawyer, who said they filed a counter affidavit and a written address, adopted their applications.
On his alert, Njemanze, while adopting his processes, prayed the court to grant the application and resolved the issues raised in favour of his client (Anyanwu).(NAN)
