PDP crisis: Supreme Court dismisses Anyanwu’s request, reserves judgment

The Supreme Court Monday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, where he sought to nullify his removal as the national secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). 

The 5-man panel of judges led by Justice Musa Awani Aba-Aji has, however, reserved judgment in the matter after taking arguments from Anyanwu’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze, SAN, and Chief Paul Erokoro, SAN, who stood for Aniagu Emmanuel. 

The panel said  the date for the judgment delivery would be communicated to all parties when ready. 

Anyanwu who was removed from office on account of his resignation to contest the last Imo governorship election which he lost had sued the PDP leadership for preventing him to continue to remain in office having lost his gubernatorial ambition. 

At the proceedings on Monday, Anyanwu, through his counsel, urged the Supreme Court to void and set aside the  the judgments of the the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had in their concurrent judgments removed him as PDP national secretary. 

In his arguments, he insisted that having lost his gubernatorial adventure in Imo governorship poll in 2023, he should be allowed to stage a come back to retain the same office he resigned from. 

However, counsel to Aniagu Emmanuel, Chief Paul Erokoro SAN told the panels that Anyanwu’s prayer violated the Constitution of the PDP adding that having resigned as the National Secretary to contest another election, he cannot be allowed to return to the office. 

PDP and Ambassador Illiya Damagun, who are the 2nd and 3rd respondents in the appeal, did not file any process for or against Anyanwu’s suit. 

However, the 4th respondent, Ali Odefa, objected to the request of Anyanwu’s bid to return to  office as national secretary. 

Odefa, who was represented by lawyer Okwudili Anozie, urged the apex court to dismiss Anyawu suit for being frivolous, baseless, and lacking in merit.