The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, has taken his battle against his expulsion to the Court of Appeal, challenging the decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which dismissed his suit. Anyanwu filed a Notice of Appeal dated April 10, 2026, at the Abuja Division of the appellate …
Anyanwu Heads to Appeal Court Over PDP Expulsion
The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, has taken his battle against his expulsion to the Court of Appeal, challenging the decision of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which dismissed his suit.
Anyanwu filed a Notice of Appeal dated April 10, 2026, at the Abuja Division of the appellate court, seeking to overturn the January 12 judgement delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1050/2025.
Listed as the appellant, he is contesting the ruling against nine respondents, including the PDP, its immediate past acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
He is asking the appellate court to set aside the entire judgement of the lower court, which declined jurisdiction on the grounds that the matter was an internal party dispute.
Court documents show that Anyanwu raised nine grounds of appeal, challenging the trial court’s decision in its entirety. He faulted the judge’s position that his failure to exhaust internal party mechanisms rendered the suit premature and incompetent.
The appeal referenced the lower court’s ruling that his inability to utilise internal remedies under the PDP constitution deprived the court of jurisdiction.
Anyanwu argued that the decision resulted in a miscarriage of justice, stressing that his case sought declaratory and injunctive reliefs regarding the competence of the party’s National Disciplinary Committee to hear allegations against him.
He maintained that the issues raised involve his constitutional right to a fair hearing and the legality of the disciplinary process.
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According to him, the case goes beyond party affairs and touches on constitutional rights, particularly fair hearing, as well as alleged breaches of the PDP constitution.
He also challenged the legality and conduct of the disciplinary proceedings led by the National Disciplinary Committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi, including its findings and recommendations.
Anyanwu insisted that his grievances are justiciable and not confined to internal party matters, arguing that the Nigerian Constitution overrides party rules.
He further maintained that he has the right to approach the court to seek redress and that his suit was neither premature nor incompetent.
On another ground, he disputed the trial court’s conclusion that his claims did not fall within any recognised exception to the doctrine that courts should not interfere in intra-party disputes.
The lower court had ruled that the claims were non-justiciable, noting that the suit failed to comply with mandatory internal dispute resolution procedures and did not disclose a reasonable cause of action against the defendants.
Anyanwu described this conclusion as legally flawed and one that led to a miscarriage of justice.
He reiterated that his suit questioned the competence of the disciplinary committee and sought reliefs tied to constitutional breaches, including violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the PDP constitution.
He further argued that the disciplinary proceedings were conducted in breach of constitutional provisions and without granting him a fair hearing.
According to him, the dispute does not centre on party leadership or membership issues but on alleged violations of constitutional safeguards.
As part of his reliefs, Anyanwu urged the appellate court to allow the appeal, set aside the lower court’s decision striking out his suit, and enter judgement in his favour.
His legal team, led by K.C.O. Njemanze (SAN) and L.A. Njemanze (SAN), filed the appeal.
The development marks another turn in the lingering crisis within the PDP, particularly among factions linked to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Tension has continued to build over the legal implications of Anyanwu’s status, especially following earlier decisions that upheld his suspension by the party’s National Working Committee.
The dispute is also connected to disagreements over the party’s recent national convention and the emergence of rival leadership blocs.
Anyanwu had earlier approached the High Court to challenge the recommendation of the PDP’s National Disciplinary Committee, which accused him of anti-party activities and recommended his expulsion.
However, the trial court dismissed the case, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party where due process had been followed.
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.
