The Supreme Court of Nigeria overturned the decisions of the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the authentic National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). A five-member panel, led by Justice Jamilu Tukur, declared that disputes over the PDP’s national secretary position are internal party matters, falling outside the judiciary’s jurisdiction.
The apex court struck down the Federal High Court’s October 2024 judgment, which had removed Anyanwu from his role, and set aside the Court of Appeal’s majority decision in December that upheld his dismissal. Instead, the Supreme Court endorsed the appellate court’s minority ruling by Justice Ekanem, which had previously nullified the trial court’s verdict due to lack of jurisdiction.
Justice Tukur further ruled that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who filed the original suit, lacked the legal standing to challenge Anyanwu’s position, as he failed to demonstrate any personal stake or harm tied to the PDP’s choice of National Secretary. This landmark decision reaffirms the judiciary’s stance on non-interference in political party affairs.
