The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Samuel Anyanwu, a member of the Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking judicial recognition as the party’s national secretary.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the case on Tuesday after Anyanwu’s counsel, U. C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that his client’s tenure as national secretary had expired in December 2025, rendering the suit irrelevant.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, sought to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the then PDP chairman, Umar Damagum, from accepting or acting on any party correspondence not signed by Anyanwu.
However, when the matter came up for hearing, Njemanze-Aku told the court that the issues raised had been overtaken by events.
“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 lacked merit from the outset and urged the court to dismiss it with a cost of ₦1 million. Counsel to Damagum, M. O. Akpan, aligned with INEC’s position.
After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Umar dismissed the suit without awarding costs.
“Since issues have been joined, the matter is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
The PDP national secretary position has been the subject of prolonged legal and political battles, with Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo all claiming the office at different times.
The dispute traces back to December 2025, when a Wike-aligned faction of the PDP dissolved the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and constituted a caretaker committee following the expiration of the tenure of the NWC elected in October 2021. Abdulrahman Mohammed was named chairman, while Anyanwu was appointed secretary.
Meanwhile, a rival faction backed by PDP governors, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, held a separate convention in November and elected a new NWC, with Kabiru Turaki emerging as chairman.
That convention also announced the expulsion of Wike and his allies, including former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and party members such as Anyanwu, Bature, and Ajibade.
The Wike-led group rejected the expulsions and went on to establish parallel party structures, including an NWC, Board of Trustees, and National Executive Committee, further deepening the leadership crisis within the PDP.
