PDP, Udeh-Okoye Move to Join Lawsuit Against INEC Over Anyanwu’s Secretaryship Battle
The legal battle over the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary has intensified, with the PDP and Mr. Sunday Udeh-Okoye seeking to be joined in a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled National Secretary, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On February 19, Anyanwu filed a fresh suit against INEC and Umar Damagun, the PDP’s acting National Chairman, over an alleged plot to remove him from office. The suit, filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, revolves around claims that the party was planning to oust him from his position as National Secretary.
Court Delays Decision, Orders Defendants to Show Cause
During a ruling on Anyanwu’s ex-parte motion, Justice Ekwo declined to immediately grant Anyanwu’s request. Instead, the judge ordered that the defendants be notified to show cause at the next hearing, scheduled for February 24. Anyanwu’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze, informed the court that INEC and Damagun had been duly served with the court processes as ordered.
Although INEC’s Ahmed Mohammed appeared in court, no lawyer represented Damagun. Justice Ekwo asked if INEC had filed a response, to which Mohammed confirmed that a counter affidavit had been filed. However, the judge pointed out that this filing did not respond to the core issue at hand: whether Anyanwu’s prayers for an interim injunction should be granted.
Udeh-Okoye and PDP Seek to Join the Legal Proceedings
As the case unfolded, two other significant players emerged—Udeh-Okoye and the PDP itself—seeking to be joined in the suit. Udeh-Okoye’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro, argued that his client should be added as a defendant, stating that Udeh-Okoye was the rightful and substantive National Secretary of the PDP, in line with a special commendation from the party’s Board of Trustees.
On behalf of the PDP, Paul-Harris Ogbole also sought to join the suit, requesting that the party be added as a defendant. Ogbole’s motion sought an order requiring Anyanwu to amend the suit’s processes to officially include the PDP, ensuring the party receives all relevant court documents going forward.
Legal Strategy and Public Reactions
Both Erokoro and Ogbole provided extensive arguments, referring to a February 12 press release from the PDP’s national publicity secretary, which confirmed Udeh-Okoye as the party’s National Secretary. Udeh-Okoye’s legal team also referred to a resolution from the party’s Board of Trustees, further reinforcing the claim that Udeh-Okoye is the legitimate holder of the position.
In a surprising turn, Erokoro also mentioned that an application had been filed at the Supreme Court seeking a stay of execution in the matter. Justice Ekwo took note of this and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue swiftly.
Next Steps and Court’s Orders
Justice Ekwo stressed the need for the parties seeking to be joined—Udeh-Okoye and the PDP—to be promptly included in the suit to avoid further delays in deciding the case. The judge also warned INEC and Damagun not to take any action that might prejudice Anyanwu’s position before the next hearing.
The matter was adjourned until February 28 for further hearing, where the court will address the motions filed by the PDP, Udeh-Okoye, and INEC, setting the stage for a crucial legal showdown over the future of the PDP’s National Secretary role.
