Secretaryship; Supreme Court reserves judgement on Anyanwu’s Appeal – PDP

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State wishes to clear that the Supreme Court on Monday, March 10, 2025, reserved judgement on the appeal brought before it by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu challenging the judgment of the Enugu Appeal Court which in December 2024 controversially sacked the Imo PDP leader as the National Secretary of the party.

This followed the adoption of briefs and exchange of arguments by counsels of the disputing parties.

Lancelot Obiaku, PDP spokesman stated in a Press Release of 10th March 2025.

He said: “Sen. Anyanwu’s counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN) had reasoned with the justices of the apex court to withdraw the application for a stay-of-execution given that the substantive suit is already being expeditiously heard, with the court having earlier granted Anyanwu’s request for accelerated hearing in the last sitting.

The motion for stay-of-execution was therefore withdrawn by Anyanwu’s counsel to allow the court to focus on the substantive appeal, especially as the status quo ante bellum granted by the Appeal Court already subsists.

It is therefore important to clear that at no time did the apex court strike out the motion for stay-of-execution for lack of merit or for any other reason other than the fact that it is no longer consequential given the above-mentioned circumstances.

Senator Anyanwu (the applicant) is challenging Aniagwu Emmanuel (1st respondent who obtained questionable judgements at the High Court and Court of Appeal in Enugu in favour of Hon. Udeh Okoye), the Peoples Democratic Party; its Acting National Chairman,Ambassador Umar Damagum, and Ali Odefa, who are 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively, on the position of National Secretary.

At the resumed hearing, Anyanwu’s counsel urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the judgments of the lower courts on the grounds that internal party affairs are not justicable by any court.

Additionally, the appellant further contended that the lower court erred in interpreting Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act 2022, arguing that he neither resigned nor was he removed from his position as National Secretary.

Sen. Anyanwu stressed that the PDP constitution stipulates specific procedures for vacating executive offices, which include removal or resignation.

This was countered by the counsels representing Aniagwu Emmanuel and Ali Odefa, but the PDP and Amb. Umar Damagum’s representatives did not oppose Anyanwu’s counsel’s prayers.

After hearing all the arguments, the five member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Uwani Musa Abba-Aji, announced that judgment will be reserved for a later date that will be communicated to the parties involved.

Imo PDP will continue to frown at the desperate efforts of some elements to always plant confusion through the spread of fake news.

The party urges its members and teeming supporters in the State to remain calm and focused now the Supreme Court will soon put the dispute involving the leader of the party in the State, Sen. Anyanwu, to rest.

Imo PDP will continue to be on the side of individuals and groups who promote peace, unity and stability in the party, and not those who sow discord”, Obiaku stated.

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