A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Samuel Anyanwu in which he sought judicial recognition as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the case on Tuesday after Anyanwu’s counsel, U. C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that his client’s tenure as the party’s national secretary would lapse in December 2025, a development that effectively rendered the matter academic.
In the suit, referenced FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu had asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and then PDP chairman, Umar Damagum, from receiving, acting upon, or giving effect to any official communication from the party that did not bear his signature.
When proceedings resumed on Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer told the court that events had overtaken the case, making it unnecessary to continue with the action.
“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” he said.
INEC’s counsel, Akintayo Balogun, argued that the suit should never have been filed, urging the court to dismiss it outright and award a cost of N1 million against the claimant. Counsel to Damagum, M. O. Akpan, aligned himself with INEC’s position and adopted Balogun’s submission.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Umar ruled that the matter would be dismissed, but declined to impose any financial penalty.
“Since you have joined issues, I am going to dismiss this matter. The matter is hereby dismissed,” the judge held.
The office of PDP national secretary has remained a subject of legal contention, with Samuel Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo all asserting claims to the position.
What you should know
The PDP national secretary position has been at the centre of prolonged internal disputes, reflecting deeper factional tensions within the opposition party.
Legal battles over party offices often arise from disagreements over tenure interpretation, zoning arrangements, or leadership legitimacy. While courts generally avoid interfering in internal party affairs, they are frequently called upon when disputes affect electoral processes or regulatory compliance involving INEC.
The dismissal of Anyanwu’s suit underscores how cases can collapse once circumstances change, especially when the claimant concedes that the reliefs sought are no longer practically relevant.
