Supreme Court reserves judgment in Anyanwu’s appeal

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to overturn his removal from office.

Anyanwu is challenging the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which upheld an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court that removed him as PDP Secretary and recognized Sunday Udey-Okoye in his place.

Through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu filed a ten-ground appeal urging the apex court to set aside the appellate court’s decision. The respondents in the appeal, marked SC/CV/82/2025, include Aniagu Emmanuel, PDP, the party’s National Chairman, Iliya Damagun, and the National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Ali Odefa.

Central to Anyanwu’s argument is the claim that the Court of Appeal erred in law by ruling on a matter concerning the internal affairs of the PDP, which he contends is beyond judicial intervention. He also faulted the court’s decision on jurisdiction, locus standi, and the interpretation of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022.

During the hearing, all parties adopted their legal processes, except for PDP and Damagun, who did not submit any filings. The respondents urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that Anyanwu had effectively resigned from office.

Senior counsel Erokoro, referencing the case of Ali Modu Sheriff vs PDP, argued that the Supreme Court should reconsider its previous stance that party leadership disputes are non-justiciable. He maintained that Anyanwu’s resignation was legally binding.

However, Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, who presided over the five-member panel, questioned whether the court had the authority to determine who holds a party office.

In response, Anyanwu’s counsel, Njemanze, insisted that the lower courts lacked jurisdiction over the matter, emphasizing the Supreme Court’s precedent that internal party affairs should not be subject to litigation.

Following submissions from both sides, the Supreme Court reserved judgment, with the date to be communicated to the parties.

Additionally, the court struck out Anyanwu’s motion for a stay of execution, after his counsel formally applied for its withdrawal.

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