Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has rejected the request of the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from effecting his removal as Secretary of the party.

In his application, he asked the electoral body to stop recognising Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary.

Justice Ekwo ordered Anyanwu to put INEC and other defendants in his new suit, on notice to appear in court to enable him to hear their sides.

Senator Anyanwu had approached the Federal High Court with an ex-parte application, praying the judge to restrain INEC or any of its agents from receiving or effecting any correspondences and written submissions that emanated or may emanate from the PDP except those signed by him.

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In the application argued by his counsel, Anyanwu also asked Justice Ekwo to restrain Ambassador Umar Damagun from forwarding any correspondence, documents, or written submissions to INEC unless they were signed by him.

In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo held that after reviewing Anyanwu’s averments in support of his suit, he was convinced that a case of urgency was established.

The judge, however, said that he would not grant the request of the plaintiff through an ex-parte application but would prefer to hear from the defendants before issuing any order.

He, therefore, ordered Anyanwu to put INEC and Damagun on notice regarding the existence of the new suit to enable them to appear in court and have their sides heard.

Justice Ekwo directed the plaintiff to serve the court processes on the two defendants and fixed February 24 for the case to be heard.

The dispute between Anyanwu and Udeh-Okoye over the PDP National Secretary position has seen conflicting court rulings. The Court of Appeal in Enugu, on December 20, 2024, affirmed Udeh-Okoye’s nomination as National Secretary.

However, the Abuja Division of the appellate court later granted a stay of execution, directing both parties to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of Anyanwu’s appeal at the Supreme Court.

Despite the legal standoff, the PDP’s National Working Committee last week officially recognised Udeh-Okoye as National Secretary in compliance with directives from the Board of Trustees  and the PDP Governors’ Forum.