A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the fresh suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu concerning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership tussle. This decision comes after Anyanwu, a factional national secretary, applied to withdraw the matter, citing that the suit had been overtaken by events. The prolonged legal battle over the PDP national secretary position began when Anyanwu vacated his post to contest the 2023 Imo state governorship election, which he ultimately lost. His subsequent attempt to reclaim the secretary role ignited internal party conflicts, leading to a rival claim from Sunday Udeh-Okoye. The Court of Appeal in Enugu had previously upheld a Federal High Court ruling that removed Anyanwu and affirmed Udeh-Okoye as the authentic national secretary. Anyanwu’s legal team had filed for a stay of execution and appealed to the Supreme Court, but the recent withdrawal marks a significant turning point in this internal party dispute.

At the resumed hearing, Anyanwu’s lawyer, U. C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court of their intention to withdraw the suit. “We don’t think it is proper for a matter that has been overtaken by events to continue. In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the court’s time,” Njemanze-Aku stated. This move was met with arguments from various defendants’ counsel who urged the court to dismiss the suit with costs, citing the unnecessary institution of the case.

The dispute over the PDP national secretary office has been a persistent issue within the party. Following Anyanwu’s departure to pursue governorship aspirations, the vacuum created led to a contest for the position. Sunday Udeh-Okoye emerged as a claimant, setting the stage for further legal challenges.

What is the PDP leadership tussle about? The PDP leadership tussle primarily revolves around the contested position of the party’s national secretary, a role initially held by Senator Samuel Anyanwu before his gubernatorial bid.

On December 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Enugu delivered a judgment that supported a prior Federal High Court decision. This ruling officially removed Anyanwu from the national secretary position and recognized Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the rightful holder of the party’s scribe office. This appellate court decision significantly impacted the ongoing legal proceedings.

Following the Court of Appeal’s judgment, Anyanwu pursued further legal avenues. He filed for a stay of execution of the ruling and initiated an appeal to the Supreme Court, aiming to challenge the decision that affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s position.

However, on the scheduled date for the hearing of his appeal, Anyanwu made the decision to withdraw his suit. This action effectively brought an end to the prolonged legal contention that had been affecting the party’s internal stability.

Counsel for the second defendant, Akintayo Balogun, argued that the suit should never have been filed. He requested costs amounting to one million naira for the legal proceedings.

Representing the third defendant, M. O. Akpan, aligned his arguments with the second defendant and requested N1.5 million in costs, indicating the significant resources expended.

Ugochukwu Okanu, appearing for the fourth defendant, also supported the submissions of the second defendant and sought one million naira in costs, underscoring the collective financial implications for the party.

J. A. Musa, counsel for the sixth defendant, similarly raised no objection and requested one million naira in costs, reflecting a pattern of financial claims across multiple parties.

In response, Njemanze-Aku clarified that the withdrawal was not a voluntary discontinuation but rather a consequence of circumstances beyond the plaintiff’s control, suggesting external pressures or developments.

Delivering the final ruling, the presiding judge acknowledged the arguments presented and dismissed the matter. “Since you have joined issues, I am going to dismiss this matter. The matter is hereby dismissed,” the judge declared, bringing a definitive close to this particular legal challenge.

This dismissal signifies the end of Senator Anyanwu’s most recent legal attempt to regain his former position, following the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of Udeh-Okoye’s legitimacy as the PDP national secretary. The party can now focus on internal cohesion without the immediate threat of this specific legal dispute.

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