The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the request of Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to halt the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from enforcing his removal. Justice Inyang Ekwo instructed Anyanwu to notify INEC and other parties involved to allow them to present their arguments.
Anyanwu, through his lawyer, filed an urgent application seeking to prevent INEC from acting on any correspondence from the PDP unless signed by him. He also sought to restrain the acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, from forwarding documents to INEC without his signature.
Justice Ekwo acknowledged the urgency of the matter but emphasized the need to hear from the defendants before making any decisions. Consequently, he directed Anyanwu to serve legal documents to INEC and Damagum and scheduled a hearing for February 24.
In a related development, the Cross River State chapter of the PDP has called for a peaceful resolution to ongoing internal conflicts among party leaders and emphasized the need for reorganization ahead of the 2027 elections. During a meeting in Calabar, the acting State Chairman, Denis Nkiri, stated support for the decisions made by the South-South governors to strengthen the party.
The chapter reiterated its commitment to following the party’s constitution and operational guidelines, rejecting any zonal congress convened in Calabar, which deviates from the tradition of holding it in Port Harcourt. The communiqué urged party leaders to prioritize unity and inclusiveness to ensure electoral success in the upcoming congresses.
