By Mo. Hanif
In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court on Friday reversed the decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
A five-member panel of the apex court ruled that the appointment of a party’s National Secretary falls strictly within the internal affairs of the party and is beyond judicial interference. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur struck out the Federal High Court’s October 2024 verdict and nullified the majority decision of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld Anyanwu’s removal last December. Instead, the Supreme Court upheld the minority judgment by Justice Ekanem, who had dismissed the case due to lack of jurisdiction.
The court further ruled that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, lacked the legal standing to challenge Anyanwu’s appointment, as he failed to demonstrate any personal or direct harm caused by the PDP’s decision.
This ruling solidifies Anyanwu’s position and delivers a major blow to forces within the PDP seeking to oust him.