In a landmark ruling, Nigeria’s Supreme Court has nullified the judgments of both the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court that had dismissed Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The apex court’s decision, delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, has restored Anyanwu to his position, marking a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle within the PDP.
The Supreme Court’s five-member panel ruled that the issue of who holds the position of National Secretary is a matter that falls within the internal affairs of the party and is therefore non-justiciable.
As a result, the court struck down the October 2024 trial court decision and the December 2024 appeal court ruling that had affirmed Anyanwu’s removal.
The Court did, however, uphold the minority judgment of the appellate court, which had dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds.
The ruling also highlighted that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who had initiated the suit, lacked the legal standing to do so, as he failed to demonstrate how the matter directly affected him. This critical aspect of the judgment further underscores the court’s focus on the need for parties to have proper standing in political disputes.
This judgment comes amid ongoing tensions within the PDP, with the party’s National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, Governors’ Forum, and the South East Zonal Executive Committee all having endorsed Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary at various times.
In recent developments, Anyanwu faced the PDP’s disciplinary committee led by Tom Ikimi, which recommended his expulsion after he allegedly engaged in anti-party activities.
The Supreme Court’s ruling now leaves Anyanwu firmly in his position, pending any future internal party decisions. The case has raised important questions about the jurisdiction of courts over internal party matters, while also highlighting the complexities of party politics in Nigeria.
