Court Dismisses Samuel Anyanwu’s Suit on PDP National Secretary Position

In a significant development for Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who sought validation as the party’s authentic National Secretary. The ruling, delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar on Tuesday, effectively ends a protracted legal battle over the position, citing the expiration of Anyanwu’s tenure and the matter being overtaken by events.

Anyanwu, a former senator from Imo State and a key figure in the party’s internal dynamics, had initiated the suit last year to challenge the PDP’s recognition of Sunday Udeh-Okoye as his replacement. According to court records, Anyanwu resigned his secretary role in 2023 to contest the Imo governorship election, which he lost. Upon attempting to reclaim the position, he faced opposition from party factions, leading to multiple court interventions.

Previous rulings from a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu in 2024 had removed Anyanwu from the role and affirmed Udeh-Okoye. However, the Supreme Court later set aside those judgments, ruling that the issue was an internal party affair beyond the courts’ jurisdiction. Emboldened by this, Anyanwu filed an application to amend his originating process in the Abuja court.

During proceedings, Justice Inyang Ekwo initially granted the amendment but imposed a N150,000 fine on Anyanwu for delaying the process. The case was later transferred to Justice Umar, who in November 2025 allowed another amendment with a N30,000 fine in favor of the respondents, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), former PDP Acting Chairman Umar Damagum, Udeh-Okoye, and others. The matter was adjourned to January 20 for hearing.

On Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer, K.C. Njemanze (SAN), informed the court of his client’s intent to withdraw the suit. He explained that Anyanwu’s four-year tenure, which began in 2021, had expired in December 2025, rendering the case academic. Njemanze attributed the prolonged litigation to delays in Nigeria’s judicial system and urged the court to strike out the matter to avoid wasting time.

However, lawyers for the respondents argued that issues had already been joined, prompting Justice Umar to dismiss the suit outright rather than merely striking it out. The judge declined to award costs, noting the parties’ positions.

This dismissal comes amid ongoing PDP leadership tensions, including references to Anyanwu’s alignment with former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp. The party’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan elected a new National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as chairman, further solidifying structural changes.

Political analysts suggest this ruling could stabilize the PDP ahead of future elections, allowing focus on rebuilding unity. Anyanwu has not indicated plans to appeal, and PDP officials have yet to comment publicly on the outcome.

Reactions on social media platform X have been swift, with users sharing updates and debating the implications for the party’s internal democracy.