“PDP Leadership Crisis Reaches Courtroom as Appeal on Secretary’s Removal Awaits Ruling”

The ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has now shifted to the courtrooms, as party members await a ruling on a motion for stay of execution filed by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. The motion was filed at the Appeal Court to prevent the enforcement of a decision that upheld his removal from office by a High Court in Enugu.

Sources confirmed that the Court of Appeal is expected to rule on Anyanwu’s motion today, unless there are any last-minute changes. The appeal follows a December 20, 2024, ruling by an Appeal Court sitting in Enugu, which upheld the decision of a High Court that removed Anyanwu as the PDP national secretary. The court affirmed Sunday Ude-Okoye as the rightful person to hold the position.

In response to this ruling, Anyanwu filed for a stay of execution and appealed the decision. Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, was appointed as the party’s legal counsel by PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who is seen as an ally of Anyanwu. However, the appointment of Dr. Musa’s chambers as the legal representatives for the PDP has sparked internal divisions within the party.

Notably, 11 out of the 17 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have distanced themselves from Damagum and Anyanwu. These members claim that the external legal team was selected without the knowledge or consent of the NWC, particularly the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN.

In a letter dated December 20, 2024, Damagum appointed Dr. Musa’s chambers as legal representatives of the PDP in the ongoing appeal case (Supreme Court Appeal No: CA/E/23/2024: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu vs. Aniagwu Emmanuel and others). He claimed to have made the appointment on behalf of the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC). However, several members of the NWC, including Deputy National Chairman (South) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and National Treasurer Alhaji Yayari Ahmed, denied Damagum’s claims. They wrote a letter to the President of the Appeal Court, distancing the party from Anyanwu’s appeal.