In a groundbreaking ruling that has sent shockwaves through Nigerian politics, the Supreme Court has decisively overturned the judgments of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, reinstating Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The five-member panel of the highest court in the land ruled that the question of who holds the position of PDP’s National Secretary falls squarely within the realm of the party’s internal affairs, making it non-justiciable in the eyes of the law.
In a detailed lead judgment delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the Supreme Court not only annulled the trial court’s ruling from October 2024 but also set aside the majority verdict from the Court of Appeal in December, which had endorsed Anyanwu’s removal.
The Court affirmed the dissenting opinion from Justice Ekanem, who had earlier declared the trial court’s judgment void due to jurisdictional issues.
In addition, the apex court highlighted a critical aspect of the case: the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who had initiated the suit, lacked the legal standing to do so.
He failed to demonstrate any personal stake in the matter, particularly how the identity of the PDP’s National Secretary had impacted him.
This ruling not only marks a significant legal victory for Senator Anyanwu but also reinforces the boundaries of judicial intervention in the internal matters of political parties.
