“Courtroom Showdown: PDP and Udeh-Okoye Join Forces in Legal Battle Against INEC”

On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Sunday Udeh-Okoye sought to be joined in a lawsuit filed by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary of the party, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sen. Anyanwu, who had filed the suit on February 19, 2025, accused INEC and the PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, of plotting to remove him from his position as the party’s national secretary. The case was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In an earlier ruling, Justice Ekwo had declined to grant Anyanwu’s motion ex parte but directed that the defendants be notified to show cause at the next court date. The hearing was scheduled for February 24, 2025, for the defendants to explain why the suit should not proceed.

During Monday’s proceedings, Anyanwu’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants to show cause. While INEC was represented by Ahmed Mohammed, no lawyer appeared for Umar Damagun. However, two senior advocates, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN, appeared on behalf of the parties seeking to be joined in the case. Erokoro represented Udeh-Okoye, and Ogbole represented the PDP.

Erokoro informed the court that Udeh-Okoye is the substantive national secretary of the PDP, and his appearance was necessary in the case. The court did not proceed with a ruling, and the matter was adjourned for further proceedings.

This legal battle comes amid ongoing tensions within the PDP, with Anyanwu’s position as national secretary being contested.