The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a factional National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking official recognition as the party’s scribe. Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the case after it was confirmed that Anyanwu’s tenure as PDP National Secretary had expired in December 2025, rendering the matter academic.
Anyanwu had originally filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former Acting PDP Chairman Umar Damagun, later adding the PDP, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, Dr Ali Odela, and Mr Setonji Koshoedo as additional defendants. He sought orders restraining INEC and Damagun from acting on PDP correspondence not signed or countersigned by him.
At the hearing, Anyanwu’s counsel, U.C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that his client’s tenure had lapsed, urging the withdrawal of the case to save the court’s time. INEC and other defendants requested the suit be dismissed with N1 million in costs, but the court ruled that no costs would be awarded, dismissing the matter entirely.
The dispute over the PDP National Secretary position dates back to Anyanwu’s vacating the office to contest the 2023 Imo State governorship election, which he lost. Subsequent legal battles saw multiple rulings, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, which temporarily reinstated Anyanwu. Despite the apex court’s ruling, internal party tensions continued, prompting him to file the fresh suit. Justice Umar’s dismissal now closes the latest chapter in the prolonged PDP leadership dispute.
