PDP secretary: Wike camp writes S’Court ahead of BoT meeting

Legal commotion around the position of Peoples Democratic Party National Secretary has escalated to new heights as Samuel Anyanwu, a supporter of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has petitioned the Supreme Court for an expedited hearing on the matter.

Anyanwu formally requested an accelerated hearing in a letter dated January 29 and filed to the Supreme Court in Abuja. He emphasised that the post of national secretary was vital for the PDP, which had recently been embroiled in a crisis. Our correspondent got the letter on Tuesday.

After Anyanwu ran for governor of Imo in 2023, the PDP South-East zone nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to succeed him, further deepening the leadership crisis inside the main opposition party.

Though Ude-Okoye was ultimately victorious in the Appeal Court’s decision on December 20, 2024, Anyanwu was able to stay in office until the Supreme Court’s final verdict because a restraining order was issued on January 27, 2025, by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Anyanwu clarified his plea with Journalists, saying that he wanted the fast track because he was dedicated to the PDP’s peace and advancement.

As a result, today (Wednesday), in Abuja, the PDP Board of Trustees will gather for an emergency meeting to discuss and evaluate the most recent events surrounding the party’s National Secretary position.

There has been persistent instability within the PDP as a result of considerable internal strife both prior to and beyond the 2023 national elections. The party’s internal disputes have become more difficult to resolve as a result of these difficulties, which have caused profound divisions.

The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, is coming under increasing fire from party members who hold him responsible for the party’s ongoing problems.

The court ousted Iyorchia Ayu as party chairperson for failing to execute essential reforms, thus complicating the leadership transfer, and he succeeded her.

The leadership struggle inside the party has intensified and entered a new phase following multiple attempts at reconciliation that were unsuccessful, including for the post of national secretary.

On January 27, 2025, however, a restraining order was issued by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, commanding Anyanwu to continue in his position until the Supreme Court gave a definitive verdict, thus changing the course of events.

The situation became even more tense last Wednesday when Ude-Okoye was violently ejected from the Board of Trustees meeting by Anyanwu’s supporters. Security had to step in to restore order. The PDP governors, spearheaded by Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, responded by endorsing the decision of the Court of Appeal and calling on the NWC to put it into action.

Ude-Okoye was confirmed as the party’s national secretary during a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, and they also distanced themselves from Anyanwu.

Anyanwu maintained his position as PDP National Secretary in his petitions to various courts, including the IG, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal. He asked the party’s governors to step in because he saw their choice to nominate Ude-Okoye as national secretary as a problem.

On Monday, Anyanwu showed up for duty at the party’s national headquarters, arriving shortly after noon and going straight to his office to oversee party business, disregarding the governor’s position.

The paper quotes Anyanwu’s legal team as saying that the party members and the political landscape are both being hurt by the disagreement over who should be the PDP’s national secretary.

Following review by the Lower Court, Anyanwu stated in a document titled “Motion on Notice brought pursuant to Order 4 Rule 1, Order 6 Rule 5(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, W024, and the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court” that the appeal had been denied. On the other hand, the Honourable Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA, thought differently.

As a result, he asked the court to expedite the hearing of his appeal (SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu v. Aniagu Emmanuel and three others).

This court ruling permits a rule deviation by reducing the period that the Respondents have to submit their Respondents’ Argument Briefs and the Appellant/Applicant has to submit his Appellant Reply Briefs.

Appellant/Applicant Anyanwu “filed an appeal via a Notice of Appeal on the 27th of December 2025” after being “dissatisfied with the judgement of the lower court,” according to his legal team. The appeal has been entered as SC/CV/18/2025: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu V. Aniagu Emmanuel and three others, and the records of appeal have been prepared and sent..

After serving the respondents with his appellant’s brief of argument, he notified the Supreme Court.

“The National Secretary’s office is very important to the administration of the 2nd Respondent,” the paper further added. In order to comply with the 2nd Respondent’s constitution, all official correspondence with the INEC and other relevant entities must bear the signature of the National Secretary.

That the 2nd Respondent’s members and the country are suffering as a result of the disagreement and conflict surrounding the 2nd Respondent’s national secretary’s office.

It is within the inherent power of the Honourable Court to grant the application that the Appellant/Applicant requests. The decision to grant this application rests with the Honourable Court.

The Respondents will not be harmed by granting this application.”Granting this application is in the interest of justice.”
Upon being contacted, Anyanwu clarified that, for the party’s benefit, he was requesting a speedy hearing.

He expressed his desire for expedited hearing proceedings, stating that it would serve his best interests. My dedication to the PDP’s peace and advancement drove me to do this.
Associated news reports that the PDP BoT will hold its meeting in Abuja’s Transcorp at 11 a.m. today.

Sources within the PDP also confirmed that member of the BoT would hear from the committee of the former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki SAN, and deliberate over recent developments regarding the highly sought-after position of National Secretary.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he lacked the authority to speak publicly about the subject.
According to the insider, the BoT chose Transcorp as the meeting location for security reasons.

“Tomorrow (today), at 11am, at Transcorp, Abuja, the BoT will meet to discuss the National Secretary crisis,” he announced. At this meeting, the PDP governors’ recent stance will be carefully considered with the report from Turaki’s team and any other new information that has emerged.

The BoT is free to assemble wherever it sees fit, although the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, has been the site of their most recent gatherings. Unfortunately, we’ve decided to reschedule the meeting to a different place where the majority of our members would feel more secure, in light of last week’s incidents and the security breach.

While acknowledging that the BoT will convene, Anyanwu clarified that he had not received an invitation.

“The Board of Trade is meeting,” he confirmed. Neither Umar Damagum, the National Chairman, nor I were invited, in my opinion.
They were both told by the BoT to abstain from the meeting since they were “National Secretaries,” as Ude-Okoye also verified.