The Supreme Court has affirmed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the rightful National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), overturning an earlier decision by the Appeal Court in Enugu.
The verdict, delivered on Friday by a five-member panel of the apex court, settled the protracted leadership tussle between Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, a dispute that had deepened divisions within the party.
In the lead judgment read by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the Supreme Court held that matters relating to the leadership or membership of a political party fall strictly within the party’s internal affairs and should not be the business of the court.
“The exceptional circumstances that would have given jurisdiction for the court to decide on the internal affairs of a political party were missing,” Justice Tukur stated.
According to the court, such exceptional circumstances include, if the Nigerian Constitution grants the judiciary jurisdiction over the matter, if a crime has been committed and if there is a violation of contractual rights.
With none of these conditions met, the court ruled in favour of Anyanwu.
LEADERSHIP reports that the crisis over the PDP National Secretary position began when Anyanwu vacated the role to contest the Imo governorship election, which he ultimately lost.
Following his defeat, efforts to reclaim his position as secretary led to internal conflict with Ude-Okoye emerging as a contender for the seat.
On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court in Enugu upheld an earlier decision by the Federal High Court, which removed Anyanwu and affirmed Ude-Okoye as the authentic secretary.
However, Anyanwu swiftly filed for a Stay of Execution and subsequently appealed the decision at the Supreme Court.
Friday’s ruling by the apex court now puts an end to the legal battle, reaffirming Anyanwu as the PDP’s National Secretary and reinforcing the principle that political parties should resolve their internal affairs without judicial interference.
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