Appeal Court Upholds PDP NWC Suspension Powers

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu and other senior National Officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Working Committee (NWC) under the Damagum-led leadership.

The appellate court, in its ruling, also affirmed the powers of the PDP NWC to discipline its members and/or senior National Officers in line with the party’s constitution.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, the Peoples Democratic Party suspended some NWC members under the Damagum-led leadership. The suspension of National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Chief Kamal Deen Aadi, Deputy Legal Adviser Okichukwu Osa and National Organising Secretary Hon. Umar Bature was announced on November 1, 2025, following an emergency meeting of the NWC.

The party had cited alleged acts of indiscipline, incompetence, financial misconduct and disregard for court orders as reasons for the one-month suspension, after which the affected officers were referred to the PDP Disciplinary Committee for further action.

The development came shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted preparations for the party’s planned national convention, a decision that further deepened the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP.

Reacting to the latest Appeal Court verdict, stakeholders noted that the ruling brings clarity to the internal disciplinary mechanisms of the party and reinforces the authority of the NWC to maintain order among its ranks.

The judgment is seen as a significant boost to the Damagum-led NWC at a time when the party continues to grapple with factional tensions, including counter-suspensions issued by the Anyanwu camp and multiple court cases over the validity of the November 2025 Ibadan national convention.

With the Court of Appeal now settling the question of the NWC’s disciplinary powers, analysts believe the ruling could help stabilise the PDP ahead of future political engagements, even as other aspects of the leadership dispute remain before the courts.

The full details of the judgment are expected to be made public in the coming days as the party leadership studies the implications for ongoing reconciliation efforts.