The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Monday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the embattled Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, challenging his removal from office.
Anyanwu, in his appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, which upheld the December 20, 2024 verdict of the Federal High Court removing him as PDP National Secretary.
In a 10-ground appeal filed through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu urged the apex court to allow his appeal and set aside the lower court’s decision, which recognised Sunday Udey-Okoye as the new PDP National Secretary.
The respondents in the appeal, marked SC/CV/82/2025, include Aniagu Emmanuel, PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun (PDP acting National Chairman), and High Chief Ali Odefa (National Vice Chairman, Southeast Zone, PDP) as the first to fourth respondents.
Anyanwu, in the appeal, argued that the lower court erred in law by assuming jurisdiction over an internal party matter.
He contended that party leadership and membership issues are non-justiciable and beyond the jurisdiction of any court.
Additionally, he criticised the lower court for failing to determine whether the plaintiff had exhausted the mandatory internal dispute resolution mechanisms outlined in the PDP constitution before filing the suit.
Anyanwu also challenged the verdict of the lower court holding that the plaintiff had the locus standi to institute the case.
Furthermore, he argued that the lower court misinterpreted Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, maintaining that he neither resigned nor was properly removed from his position.
He emphasised that the PDP constitution outlines specific procedures for the removal or resignation of party officers.
