Samuel Anyanwu, the former factional National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), filed a lawsuit demanding court recognition as the party’s substantive scribe, but the Federal High Court in Abuja denied it on Tuesday.
According to reports, Judge Mohammed Umar dismissed the case after pointing out that Anyanwu’s term as national secretary ended in December 2025, making the lawsuit obsolete.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and Umar Damagun, a former acting National Chairman of the PDP, were named as the first and second defendants by Anyanwu in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025.
Anyanwu requested a temporary injunction prohibiting INEC from receiving or acting upon any PDP letter that was not signed by him in an ex parte action submitted on February 13, 2025, via his attorney, Ken Njemanze. Additionally, he requested that the court prevent Damagun from delivering INEC any party correspondence without his countersignature.
On February 28, 2025, Sunday Udeh-Okoye and the People’s Democratic Party were added to the list of defendants as third and fourth. Setonji Koshoedo, the Deputy National Secretary, and Dr. Ali Odela, the South-East Vice Chairman of the party, were added as the fifth and sixth accused.
U. C. Njemanze-Aku, Anyanwu’s attorney, told the court that his client’s term had ended when the case came up.
He stated, “In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” adding that it would be inappropriate to continue with a case that has already been overrun by circumstances.
Akintayo Balogun, the attorney for INEC, claimed that the lawsuit should not have been filed in the first place and asked the court to dismiss it at a cost of ₦1 million. The demand for fees was supported by additional defense attorneys.
Njemanze-Aku objected, claiming that the plaintiff had no control over the withdrawal.
We had an obligation to the court, thus we chose to drop the case in order to save it time. “It is unfair to punish the plaintiff,” he contended, pleading with the judge to let the parties pay their own expenses.
Justice Umar dismissed the lawsuit after hearing the arguments and did not grant costs.
“I will reject this matter because you have joined issues. “This dismisses the matter,” the judge declared.
“The delay is not on any of the parties,” he continued in reference to expenses. The circumstances made it so. I therefore award no cost.
Anyanwu’s resignation to run for the 2023 Imo governorship, which he lost, sparked a leadership struggle for the PDP national secretary post. Internal party strife resulted from his attempt to retake the position, with Udeh-Okoye emerging as a competitor.
The Court of Appeal in Enugu upheld a Federal High Court ruling on December 20, 2024, which confirmed Udeh-Okoye as secretary and dismissed Anyanwu. In March 2025, the Supreme Court reversed the rulings of the lower courts when Anyanwu filed an appeal.
Anyanwu filed a new lawsuit in Abuja to have his position enforced since PDP groups persisted in claiming power despite the verdict of the top court. Tuesday’s dismissal has officially ended that legal struggle.
