The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Samuel Anyanwu seeking to be recognised as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, struck out the suit on Tuesday after U. C. Njemanze-Aku, counsel to Anyanwu, informed the court that his client’s tenure as PDP national secretary had expired in December 2025.
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, who was PDP national chairman at the time, from accepting or acting on any correspondence from the party that was not signed by him.
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At Tuesday’s hearing, Anyanwu’s lawyer said the matter had been overtaken by events and should no longer proceed.
“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” he said.
Akintayo Balogun, counsel to INEC, argued that the suit ought not to have been filed and urged the court to dismiss it with a cost of N1 million.
M. O. Akpan, lawyer to Damagum, aligned himself with INEC’s position.
After listening to submissions from all parties, the judge dismissed the suit without awarding any costs.
“Since you have joined issues, I am going to dismiss this matter. The matter is hereby dismissed,” Umar ruled.
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The position of PDP national secretary has been the subject of multiple court cases, with Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Setonji Koshoedo laying claim to the office.
The PDP Crisis
In December, a faction of the PDP backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), announced the dissolution of the party’s national working committee (NWC) and constituted a caretaker committee.
Abdulrahman Mohammed was appointed chairman of the caretaker panel, with Anyanwu named as secretary. The panel was set up following the expiration of the tenure of the NWC elected in October 2021.
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Earlier in November, another faction aligned with PDP governors, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, held a convention in Ibadan during which new NWC members were elected, with Kabiru Turaki emerging as chairman.
At the convention, the PDP announced the expulsion of Wike and his allies, including Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Oyo State, as well as Anyanwu, Bature and Ajibade, among others.
The Wike-backed faction rejected the expulsions and went on to constitute a parallel NWC, board of trustees and national executive committee.
In response, the Wike faction also announced the expulsion of members of the Makinde-led group.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
