The Supreme Court has affirmed Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), settling a prolonged leadership dispute. Anyanwu, a strong ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, had been in a fierce battle with Sunday Ude-Okoye for the position.
The conflict arose after Ude-Okoye gained support from various party blocs following an Appeal Court ruling in Enugu, which upheld Anyanwu’s removal by a Federal High Court. However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court ruled that leadership matters within a political party are internal affairs and not within the court’s jurisdiction, except in exceptional cases.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur explained that such exceptions include situations where:
- The Nigerian Constitution grants the court jurisdiction,
- A crime is committed, or
- There is a violation of contractual rights.
The dispute over the National Secretary position began after Anyanwu stepped down to contest the Imo governorship election, which he lost. His attempt to reclaim the seat afterward led to internal divisions within the PDP.
