Court orders PDP to replace Anyanwu as National Secretary

A High Court in Enugu State has issued an order mandating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to replace Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary. Senator Anyanwu is currently the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming election in Imo State.

The court’s decision came as a response to a motion on notice filed by Nwabueze Ugwu, in which he sought a declaration of Senator Anyanwu’s seat as vacant. The court instructed the defendants in the case, which include the PDP National Chairman, the PDP National Secretary, and the National Vice Chairman, South-East, to acknowledge Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the replacement candidate recommended by the South-East Zonal Executive Committee, pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

Presiding Judge Justice C.O Ajah ruled that the motion on notice was presented in accordance with Order 38 Rule 1 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the High Court rules of Enugu State 2020, supported by a 23-paragraph affidavit provided by the applicant.

Justice Ajah’s orders are as follows:

1. An interim order is granted as requested.
2. The second defendant/respondent is directed to recognize HON. S.K.E. UDEH-OKOYE (the person recommended by the South East Zonal Executive Committee of the first defendant/respondent) within 24 hours of receiving this order, pending the hearing and resolution of the Motion on Notice.
3. This order will expire seven (7) days from today in accordance with the court’s rules.
4. The case is scheduled for a hearing on the Motion on Notice on 30/10/2023.

It’s important to note that the PDP’s South-East zone had previously nominated Hon. Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the new party National Secretary during a unanimous decision. Chief Ali Odefa, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the South-East Zone, explained in a communique after the meeting that this decision was made to allow Senator Anyanwu to focus on his election campaign in Imo State.”