In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), setting aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu.
The apex court’s decision overturns the December 20, 2024, judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the High Court’s decision removing Anyanwu and recognizing Sunday Udey-Okoye as his replacement.
Anyanwu had argued that the lower courts lacked jurisdiction to decide on an issue concerning the internal affairs of the PDP, emphasizing that party leadership and membership matters are non-justiciable and should not be determined by any court.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is a significant victory for Anyanwu, who had maintained that he neither resigned nor was removed from office as National Secretary. He argued that the PDP constitution clearly outlines procedures for vacating executive positions, and there was no legal basis for the courts’ conclusion that he had left office.
This development is expected to have far-reaching implications for the PDP, as Anyanwu’s legitimacy as National Secretary is now reaffirmed.
