LAGOS, Nigeria – The Supreme Court don overturn Court of Appeal and Federal High Court decision wey sack Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Dem deliver the verdict on Friday, March 22, 2025, by five-member panel of justices, settling the long leadership fight wey dey cause wahala for the party.
In di lead judgement wey Jamilu Tukur read, di Supreme Court talk say matter wey concern leadership or membership of political party na internal affair, and e no suppose be di court matter. “Di exceptional circumstances wey go fit allow di court to step in no dey here,” Tukur talk.
Di court clarify say di only time judiciary fit get jurisdiction over political party matter na if dem find crime, violation of contractual rights, or if di Constitution don enable am. Since none of dis conditions dey, di court rule say Anyanwu no suppose lose im position.
The battle for di PDP National Secretary position start when Anyanwu comot to contest di 2023 Imo State governorship election, wey im lose. After im defeat, di argument within di party escalate, as Sunday Ude-Okoye, wey wan take over di position, come join di mix.
On December 20, 2024, di Court of Appeal for Enugu confirm di earlier judgement from di Federal High Court wey sack Anyanwu and recognize Ude-Okoye as di real secretary. But Anyanwu no gree; im quickly file for stay of execution and appeal di case go Supreme Court.
From di ruling wey dem give on Friday, di Supreme Court don bring di legal tussle to a close, return Anyanwu to im former position as PDP National Secretary, and emphasize say political parties suppose solve dia internal issues without court interference. Dis decision also show say Nyesom Wike, di Minister of di Federal Capital Territory and ally of Anyanwu, don gain small victory. The victory fit give Wike more power as he dey try tighten im influence over di opposition party as minister under di ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
