As the legal fireworks over the Peoples Democratic Party National Secretary seat continue, Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, has written to the Supreme Court demanding an accelerated hearing on the issue.
In a letter dated January 29 and sent to the Supreme Court in Abuja, which was obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, Anyanwu formally requested an expedited hearing, emphasising that the role of National Secretary was crucial for the PDP, which had been enmeshed in crisis in recent times.
The main opposition party’s leadership crisis intensified in 2023 when the PDP South-East zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to replace Anyanwu, who contested the Imo governorship election.
On December 20, 2024, the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Ude-Okoye, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order on January 27, 2025, allowing Anyanwu to remain in office until the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
Anyanwu, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, confirmed his request, stating that he sought the expedited hearing out of his commitment to the peace and progress of the PDP.
In response to the issue, the PDP Board of Trustees has called an emergency meeting to assess the latest developments in the dispute over the party’s National Secretary seat, scheduled to take place in Abuja on Wednesday (today).
The PDP has been struggling with significant internal turmoil before and after the 2023 general elections, leading to ongoing instability within the party. These issues have resulted in deep divisions, making it challenging to resolve the party’s internal conflicts.
Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman, has faced growing criticisms from party members who blame him for the party’s continued struggles. He took over from Iyorchia Ayu, the former chairman, who was removed by the court for failing to implement necessary reforms, adding further complications to the party’s leadership transition.
Along with the national secretary position, the leadership tussle in the party has exacerbated and taken a new dimension after several moves for reconciliation proved abortive.
However, the situation took a new turn on January 27, 2025 when the Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a restraining order, instructing Anyanwu to remain in his position until the Supreme Court issued a final ruling.
Tensions escalated last Wednesday when supporters of Anyanwu forcibly removed Ude-Okoye from the Board of Trustees meeting, prompting security intervention to restore order. In response, PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, endorsed the Court of Appeal’s judgment and urged the NWC to take steps to implement it.
They also distanced themselves from Anyanwu, confirming Ude-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.
In his petition to the IG, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, among others, Anyanwu insisted that he remained the PDP National Secretary. He described the decision by the party’s governors to support Ude-Okoye as National Secretary as a call for crisis and requested their intervention.
Despite the governor’s stance, Anyanwu reported for duty at the party’s national headquarters on Monday, arriving just after 12 noon and heading directly to his office to manage party affairs.
According to the document, Anyanwu’s legal team stated that the dispute over the position of National Secretary of the PDP is harming both the party members and the political landscape.
In the document titled “Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rule 1, Order 6 Rule 5(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, W024, and the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,” Anyanwu stated that the Lower Court reviewed the appeal and, in its ruling, rejected the appeal, with Honourable Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA, expressing a dissenting opinion.
He thus sought “An order of this Honourable Court granting accelerated hearing of this Appeal i.e. Appeal Number SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu V. Aniagu Emmanuel and 3 others.
“An order of this Honourable Court granting departure from the Rules of this Honourable Court by abridging the time within which the respective Respondents may file their Respondents’ Briefs of Argument and the Appellant/Applicant may file his Appellant Reply Briefs.”
Anyanwu’s legal team explained that “Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Lower Court, the Appellant/Applicant filed an appeal vide a Notice of Appeal on the 27th December 2025. Records of Appeal have been compiled and transmitted and the appeal entered as SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu V. Aniagu Emmanuel and 3 others.”
He informed the Supreme Court that he had filed his appellant’s brief of argument and served it on the respondents.
The document added, “The office of the National Secretary is pivotal in the administration of the 2nd Respondent, and by the Constitution of the 2nd Respondent, the signature of the National Secretary is made mandatory for all important correspondence to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other bodies and or institutions.
“That the contention and or dispute in and around the office of the National Secretary of the 2nd Respondent is detrimental to and adversely affecting the members of the 2nd Respondent and the polity.
“The Honourable Court has the inherent powers to grant the application sought by the Appellant/Applicant. The grant of this application is at the discretion of the Honourable Court.
“The Respondents will not be prejudiced if this application is granted. It is in the interest of justice to grant this Application.”
When contacted, Anyanwu stated that he sought an expedited hearing in the interest of the party.
He stated, “I want accelerated hearing because it will be in the best interest. I did this because I am committed to the peace and progress of the PDP.”
In a related update, the PDP BoT is set to meet at 11 am at the Transcorp, Abuja, today.
A reliable source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told The PUNCH that the BoT members would hear from the committee of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki SAN, and discuss recent developments concerning the coveted National Secretary position.
The source also noted that the BoT decided to hold the meeting at Transcorp for security reasons.
He stated, “The BoT will meet tomorrow (today) at 11am at Transcorp, Abuja to discuss the National Secretary crisis. The meeting will likely review the report from Turaki’s committee and consider the latest developments on the matter, especially the recent position of the PDP Governors.
“The BoT can meet anywhere, but in recent times, most of their meetings have been held at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza. However, due to last week’s incidents and the security breach, we have decided to move the meeting to a different location where most of our members will be safe and secure.”
Anyanwu confirmed that the BoT would meet but stated that he was not invited.
He said, “Yes, the BoT is meeting. I believe they did not invite me or the National Chairman, Umar Damagum.”
Similarly, Ude-Okoye confirmed that the BoT had instructed both of them to stay away from the meeting in their capacity as “National Secretaries.”
Ude-Okoye, the party’s former National Youth Leader, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated “The BoT is meeting. In their last meeting, they asked both of us not to attend their meetings again until they review and resolved all issues. So, I will not violate their order.“
