Politics
Court Dismisses Sam Anyanwu’s Suit Seeking Recognition As PDP National Secretary
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar, following a submission by Anyanwu’s lawyer, U. C. Njemanze‑Aku, that his client’s tenure as PDP national secretary had expired in December 2025
Abuja, Nigeria –The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Samuel Anyanwu, a prominent member of the Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking official recognition as the party’s national secretary.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar, following a submission by Anyanwu’s lawyer, U. C. Njemanze‑Aku, that his client’s tenure as PDP national secretary had expired in December 2025.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu had asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagum, then PDP chairman, from accepting, acting on, or giving effect to any correspondence from the party not signed by him.
When the matter came up for hearing, Anyanwu’s counsel informed the court that the case had been overtaken by events and requested to withdraw it, saying:
“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court.”
Counsel to INEC, Akintayo Balogun, argued that the suit should not have been instituted in the first place and urged the court to dismiss it with a cost of N1 million.
M. O. Akpan, representing Damagum, adopted the submission of INEC’s counsel.
After considering arguments from all parties, Justice Umar dismissed the suit, without awarding any costs. He ruled:
“Since you have joined issues, I am going to dismiss this matter. The matter is hereby dismissed.”
The PDP national secretary position has been at the center of intra-party litigation, with Sam Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo all claiming the office.
In December 2025, a faction of the PDP, led by Nyesom Wike and supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dissolved the national working committee (NWC) and set up a caretaker panel.
Abdulrahman Mohammed was appointed chairman, while Anyanwu served as secretary. The caretaker panel was established following the expiration of the tenure of the PDP NWC elected in October 2021.
In contrast, in November 2025, another faction of the party backed by PDP governors—including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State—held a convention that elected a new NWC, with Kabiru Turaki as chairman.
During this convention, the faction expelled Wike and his allies, including former Oyo State governor Ayodele Fayose, Anyanwu, Bature, and Ajibade, among others.
Rejecting their expulsion, the Wike group continued to operate a parallel NWC, board of trustees (BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC), deepening the party’s internal crisis.
