*CTC Released: Supreme Court Overturns Appeal Court, Affirms Senator Samuel Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary*
The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the PDP National Secretary, dated March 21, 2025, was released, affirming Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party. To clearly understand the ruling, permit me to provide some background.
On October 30-31, 2021, Senator Samuel Anyanwu was elected as the PDP National Secretary by the National Convention. He officially assumed office on December 10, 2021, for a four-year tenure set to terminate on December 9, 2025. However, on October 20, 2023, the Enugu State High Court, in Suit No: E/882/2023, presided over by Justice Ujah, delivered a judgment removing Senator Anyanwu from his position as PDP National Secretary. The suit, filed by one Emmanuel Aniagwu, claimed that Senator Anyanwu had "naturally resigned" by virtue of his nomination as the PDP governorship candidate in Imo State in 2023. The court then pronounced a former National Youth Leader, SKE Udeh-Okoye, as National Secretary, based on a purported nomination by the Southeast Zonal Executive.
The Court of Appeal, Enugu Division upheld the Enugu High Court’s decision on December 22, 2024. Following the judgement, Senator Anyanwu approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision delivered on March 21, 2025, overturned both the Enugu High Court and Court of Appeal judgments. The case, listed as Appeal No: CA/E/23/2024 and SC/CV/18/2025, was heard by a panel of justices led by Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, alongside Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, and Hon. Justice Jamilu Yammama Tukur. The Supreme Court found the appeal by Senator Anyanwu to be meritorious and allowed it, effectively affirming him as the PDP National Secretary. The court also affirmed a minority decision from the Court of Appeal which had set aside the Enugu High Court’s ruling.
This ruling by the Supreme Court effectively means that the PDP leadership, as it was before October 20, 2023, with Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary, is affirmed, restoring the status quo prior to the disruption caused by the Enugu State High Court.
Furthermore, the Certified True Copy lists the parties as follows: Amb. Iliya Umar Damagun as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary. For a fact, there is no mention of SKE Udeh-Okoye in any part of the ruling in the CTC, as he is considered an impostor by the Honorable Justices of the Court.
Additionally, contrary to misleading reports in sections of the media, the Supreme Court did not ask the PDP to resolve the issue of its National Secretary. The CTC confirms that the court’s ruling is final and definitive in affirming Senator Anyanwu’s position.
For avoidance of doubt, here are the rulings:
1. The appeal by Senator Samuel Anyanwu is meritorious and is allowed ✅
2. Majority decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on December 22, 2024 (which affirmed the ruling of the High Court is struck out. The minority decision that ruled in favor of Senator Anyanwu is upheld
3. The suit instituted on October 20, 2023 at the Enugu State High Court (which gave judgement to SKE Udeh-Okoye) is struck out.
4. All parties bare their cost.
The Supreme Court’s decision is not just a victory for Senator Anyanwu, it actually sets a precedent for handling internal party disputes within the Party.