A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from.removing Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as national secretary pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, granted the ex-parte motion moved by Joshua Musa, SAN, on Thursday, a copy of the order made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 4 for hearing of the motion on notice.

NAN reports that two members of the party; Geoffrey Ihentuge and Apollo’s Godspower had sued the PDP, Umar Aliyu Damagun (acting National Chairman) and National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants.

Others are the National Working Committee (NWC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 4th to 5th defendants respectively.

The motion was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 2 and 6; Order 28, Rules 1 and 2 if the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The plaintiffs, who sought five reliefs, prayed for an order of interim injunction, restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from carrying out the threat to remove the national secretary (Anyanwu).

This, he said, is a violation of the provisions of Article 47 (1) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

They sought an order restraining the PDP and its executives from preventing Anyanwu discharge his functions as an elected national Officer as contained in Article 36(1) of the Constitution of the party.

They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining them from appointing any person as acting national secretary of the party when Anyanwu’s tenure is still running and subsisting until Dec. 9, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

They equally sought an order restraining INEC (5th defendant) from recognising any purported appointment of any person as PDP’s national secretary whether in acting capacity or otherwise other than Anyanwu, whose tenure of four years was still running and subsisting until Dec. 9, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, among others.

Giving a 16-ground argument, the plaintiffs argued that Article 47(1) of the PDP Constitution provided for a tenure of four years for its executive committees at all levels from the date of inauguration.

They argued that Anyanwu was duly elected on Dec. 10, 2021 and was entitled to remain in office till Dec. 9, 2025. They said that an elected national officer of the 1st defendant cannot be arbitrarily removed from office in any manner howsoever without his resignation and in breach of party’s constitution.

They argued that there must be a vote of no confidence as required by Article 47(3) of the party’s constitution proposed or moved at a national convention before a national officer like Anyanwu could be removed from office, among other arguments.

Justice Ekwo granted the prayers after the motion was moved.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anyanwu was the PDP candidate in the Nov. 11 Imo governorship election where Sen. Hope Uzodinma of All Progressives Congress (APC) was re-elected.

The PDP’s NWC had, on Nov. 14, asked Anyanwu to step aside and directed Setonji Koshoedo to take over as acting national secretary.

Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the deputy national secretary.
PDP acting National Chairman, Damagum, who announced after the NWC meeting, explained that Koshoedo’s appointment was pending the resolution of the issues.

Nackzy:
PDP is dead

Nackzy:
PDP is dead

ravensckar:
This paperweight politician who handed UZODINMA a second term ticket on a platter of gold. Only if the PDP had handed the governorship ticket to Emeka Ihedioha, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

And those good for nothing labourers too (ELUPEE) always playing to APC's electoral game plan. A United opposition is the only thing that will rescue Nigeria from APC's tight grip. If only they could all come together to form a United opposition. Well, George Bernard Shaw was right when he said; 'History does not repeat itself, it's humans that don't learn from history'.

Sen. Anyanwu should step down as PDP National Secretary. He cannot eat his cake and still think of having it. Nonsense!

babamadiba:
PDP has lost it completely. They are just forcing it. You needed to see how badly they performed in the last Kogi election.

Iampromoted:


Emeka didn't want to contest.

ravensckar:
This paperweight politician who handed UZODINMA a second term ticket on a platter of gold. Only if the PDP had allowed a level playing ground in IMO, Emeka Ihedioha would have won the primary election, perhaps the outcome would have been different.


PDP should as a matter of fact expel both Wike & Atiku from their party. Those two f00ls will continue to sink the party with their irreconcilable differences and overt greed for power. They should bring back Peter Obi & Kwakwanso, only then can they mount a serious opposition to the APC. A United opposition is the only thing that will rescue Nigeria from APC's tight grip. Well, George Bernard Shaw was right when he said; 'History does not repeat itself, it's humans that don't learn from history'.

Sen. Anyanwu should step down as PDP National Secretary. He cannot eat his cake and still think of having it. Nonsense!

ravensckar:
Trust me, he wanted to. He was frustrated at the lack of level playing ground that the PDP refused to allow.

Firstly, the delegate list was tampered with, this gave Anyanwu the obvious advantage.

Secondly, Anyanwu's refusal to formally resign as the National Secretary despite the calls for it showed that he was being backed by some forces.

Thirdly, the malicious attack on the character & personality of Ihedioha by his fellow party men who accused him of being a Fulani sponsored candidate further demoralized him.

Finally, he knew for a fact that unseating UZODINMA (a seating governor) wouldn't be easy. Furthermore, attempting to do it with a divided opposition would be catastrophic. Hence, the reason he backed out of the fight. It was a battle that even the most astute politician cannot win. It's just a case of the presidential election repeating itself; if ATIKU, OBI & KWAKWANSO had worked together, Tinubu wouldn't have emerged victorious.

HIGHESTPOPORI:
You just hit the nail on the head.The foolish Anyawu frustrated Ihedioha when he knows he can't win election,now he wants to return back to office

Iampromoted:


Hmm. Good analysis.

Afamed:


But few days ago, you claimed the election was rigged.

It's not good to speak with 2 sides of one mouth

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Did Anyawu contest as LP candidate

Samogloby:
In your family house

babamadiba:
PDP has lost it completely. They are just forcing it. You needed to see how badly they performed in the last Kogi election.