The Supreme Court of Nigeria has officially declared Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This ruling effectively sets aside the previous judgement made by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had ruled against Anyanwu and recognized Sunday Udey-Okoye as his replacement.
In its decision, the Supreme Court supported Anyanwu’s argument that both the Court of Appeal and the trial court in Enugu had overstepped their jurisdiction, as the case involved internal matters of the PDP. Anyanwu contended that issues regarding party leadership and membership should not be subject to judicial review and should be resolved internally within the party
The Supreme Court’s ruling annulled the December 20, 2024, decision of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the High Court’s ruling that ousted Anyanwu. Anyanwu criticized the lower courts for not considering whether the plaintiff had utilized the PDP’s internal mechanisms to resolve disputes before initiating the lawsuit. He also argued that the courts lacked the authority to challenge his position without proper legal grounds, emphasizing that the PDP constitution clearly outlines the process for vacating executive positions.
