By Israel Ajenu
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected the request of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission from giving effect to his removal as the party’s national secretary.
Justice Inyang Ekwo directed Anyanwu to notify INEC and other defendants in the suit to allow the court to hear their side of the matter.
Through his counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), Anyanwu had filed an ex parte application, urging the court to stop INEC or its agents from receiving or acting upon correspondences or submissions from the PDP unless signed by him.
He also sought an order restraining the acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, from forwarding any correspondence, documents, or written submissions to INEC without his signature.
After considering Anyanwu’s arguments, Justice Ekwo ruled that while a case of urgency had been established, the court would not grant the requested reliefs through an ex parte application.
He stressed the need to hear from the defendants before making any orders.
Consequently, Justice Ekwo directed Anyanwu to serve court processes on INEC and Damagum and ordered both parties to appear in court on February 24 for the hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, the Cross River State chapter of PDP has called for a peaceful resolution to internal conflicts among party leaders.
The chapter also called for the reorganisation of the party, in preparation for the 2027 elections.
During a meeting at the party’s secretariat in Calabar, on Wednesday, led by the acting State Chairman, Denis Nkiri and attended by 31 members of the State Executive Committee, the state chapter declared support for the governors from the zone to strengthen and restructure the party.
A faction of the party had called for the zonal congress to be held in Calabar, deviating from the tradition of hosting it in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which serves as the party’s zonal headquarters.
The Cross River State chapter of the party endorsed the decisions of the South-South governors of the party.
The PDP controls four states in the South-South, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.
A communiqué signed by the executive members, including the State Working Committee and chapter chairpersons, said,
“In relation to the upcoming 2025 zonal congresses, the SEC endorsed the perspectives and decisions put forth by the South-South Governors Forum.”
The communiqué read: “In accordance with our party’s constitution as amended in 2017 (see section 50 subsections 2c, d, and e), all zonal congresses are to be held at the designated zonal headquarters, which, for the South-South region, is Port Harcourt, as has been the tradition for previous congresses.
“The SEC reiterated its disassociation and outright rejection of any convened zonal congresses in Calabar.
“Additionally, the SEC remains committed to following the party’s constitution, operational guidelines, the rule of law, and the principles established by the founders for the party’s stability and growth, alongside the welfare of Nigerians.”
It called on party leaders to be selfless in the push to position the PDP for electoral victory in 2027.
“Ultimately, the SEC called on all party leaders to be selfless and inclusive of varying opinions and interests in their efforts to elect capable officials through the forthcoming South-South zonal congresses, which are anticipated to be pivotal for the party’s success in the region,” the communiqué read.
