Supreme Court Declares Wike’s Loyalist, Anyanwu, As PDP National Secretary

Abuja, Nigeria – The Supreme Court has declared Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the authentic National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The ruling ends a prolonged legal battle between Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye over the party’s leadership position.

The dispute, which had divided PDP stakeholders, stemmed from Anyanwu’s departure to contest the Imo State governorship election.

Following his electoral defeat, he sought to reclaim his position as National Secretary, leading to a contentious legal fight.

Ude-Okoye had secured support from various factions within the party, relying on a ruling by an Appeal Court sitting in Enugu, which upheld an earlier Federal High Court decision removing Anyanwu from office.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s decision.

Justice Jamilu Tukur, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that leadership or membership disputes within a political party fall under its internal affairs and do not warrant judicial intervention unless specific exceptional circumstances exist.

The Supreme Court outlined these exceptional circumstances, which would have granted jurisdiction, as cases where the Nigerian Constitution explicitly provides for court intervention, instances of criminal offenses, or violations of contractual rights.

Since none of these applied in the PDP secretaryship dispute, the Apex Court ruled in favor of Anyanwu.

The judgment effectively reinstates Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary, resolving months of internal strife within the opposition party.