Court dismisses Anyanwu’s suit over PDP national secretary position

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Samuel Anyanwu seeking judicial recognition as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the case on Tuesday after Anyanwu’s counsel informed the court that his client’s tenure expired in December 2025, rendering the matter overtaken by events.

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 national chairman, from acting on any party correspondence not signed by him. His lawyer applied to withdraw the case, while INEC’s counsel argued it should not have been filed and sought costs. The court dismissed the suit without awarding costs.

The PDP national secretary position has been under dispute, with Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo laying claim amid a deepening party crisis. In December, a Wike-backed faction dissolved the PDP’s national working committee and installed a caretaker panel, while a governors-backed faction held a separate convention, elected a new leadership, and announced expulsions—moves rejected by the rival camp, which formed parallel party organs.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale