Supreme Court Reinstates Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary

Supreme Court Overturns Lower Courts’ Rulings on PDP National Secretary

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has nullified the judgments that removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal and the High Court in Enugu overstepped their jurisdiction by interfering in the internal affairs of the PDP.

Supreme Court Reverses PDP National Secretary Removal

The legal battle began when a member of the PDP, Mr. Aniagu Emmanuel, filed a suit that led to Anyanwu’s removal. The High Court in Enugu ruled in favor of Aniagu, leading to the appointment of Chief Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu as Anyanwu’s replacement. The appellate court upheld this ruling, arguing that Anyanwu had breached the PDP constitution by contesting the Imo State governorship election while still holding his position as National Secretary.

Unhappy with the rulings, Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court, seeking a reversal of the decisions. Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Jamilu Tukur, in a lead ruling, emphasized that the judiciary should only intervene in party affairs when there is a clear violation of a party’s internal regulations.

Judiciary Should Not Interfere in Party Leadership Decisions

The Supreme Court stated that political parties have their internal dispute resolution mechanisms, which should be exhausted before courts intervene. It ruled that courts should not meddle in leadership selection processes unless a party’s constitution is blatantly disregarded.

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The panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, also highlighted that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the suit. Consequently, the apex court set aside the judgments of the lower courts, citing a lack of jurisdiction in ruling on a party’s internal leadership matters.

PDP’s Response to Supreme Court Ruling

Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BOT) had previously endorsed Chief Udeh-Okoye as the new National Secretary. However, Anyanwu challenged this decision, insisting that his removal was politically motivated and unlawful.

Chief Udeh-Okoye had earlier argued that Anyanwu forfeited his position by contesting the governorship election in Imo State. He cited Article 47(5) of the PDP constitution, which mandates that any executive officer seeking an elective office must resign before doing so. He further stated that Article 47(6) provides for the nomination of a replacement from the same zone to serve out the remaining tenure.

Despite these claims, the Supreme Court’s ruling now reinstates Anyanwu, effectively nullifying the previous legal actions that sought to remove him.

Implications of the Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court’s decision is a significant precedent in Nigerian political disputes. It reinforces the principle that courts should not interfere in internal party affairs unless a clear constitutional violation has occurred. The ruling may also affect similar legal battles involving party leadership disputes across Nigeria.

Additionally, this verdict strengthens Anyanwu’s position within the PDP, potentially impacting the party’s internal politics ahead of future elections. Political analysts suggest that this judgment could influence how parties handle internal disagreements, particularly regarding leadership selection and succession planning.

What’s Next for PDP and Senator Anyanwu?

With the Supreme Court ruling in his favor, Senator Samuel Anyanwu is expected to resume his duties as the PDP National Secretary. However, political tensions within the party remain high, with some members backing Chief Udeh-Okoye.

The legal battles over party leadership are far from over, as Chief Udeh-Okoye recently filed a separate suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that Anyanwu no longer has a legal claim to the position.

Justice Inyang Ekwo has scheduled March 25 to hear Anyanwu’s motion to stay the execution of the previous judgments, now nullified by the Supreme Court.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Senator Samuel Anyanwu is a landmark judgment that reaffirms the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal affairs. It underscores the judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law while preventing undue interference in political processes.

As the PDP navigates this legal and political battle, all eyes remain on the party’s leadership to see how they will handle this decision moving forward.

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