BREAKING: Supreme Court declares Samuel Anyanwu, as PDP National Secretary... Party insists Udeh-Okoye remains Secretary

Samuel Anyanwu

Sunday Udeh-Okoye



Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye have been locked in a fierce battle for the position, causing division among the party stakeholders. 

Ude-Okoye gathered support from different blocs of the party who based their action on the ruling of an Appeal Court sitting in Enugu. 

The appellate court had affirmed the removal of Anyanwu by a Federal High Court in Enugu. 

However, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the Apex Court said matters bordering on the leadership or membership of a political party is its internal affair and should not be the business of a court. ‎

In the lead judgment read by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the Supreme Court said the exceptional circumstances that would have given jurisdiction for the Court to decide on the internal affairs of a political party were missing.

These exceptional circumstances as stated by the Court are: if the Nigerian Constitution gives the Court such jurisdiction, when there is the commission of a crime or violation of contractual rights. 

The National Secretary position became a contentious issue after Anyanwu left to contest the Imo governorship election which he lost. 

After losing the election, efforts to reclaim his seat as the secretary threw the party into crisis. 

An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu had on December 20, 2024, upheld an earlier decision of a High Court removing Senator Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary and affirming Ude-Okoye as the authentic secretary.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a contrasting media report has hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment affirming Sunday Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party, describing the ruling as a victory for democracy and party supremacy.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Working Committee (NWC) and signed by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, the PDP emphasized that the apex court’s ruling reinforces the principle that leadership decisions within political parties are internal matters beyond judicial interference.

The judgment effectively settles any contention over Okoye’s position, confirming that his nomination, endorsement, and ratification followed due process as outlined in the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017)

The PDP explained that Okoye’s emergence as National Secretary was in line with party regulations. Following the nomination of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the PDP’s governorship candidate for the November 2023 election in Imo State, the NWC, at its 576th meeting on October 11, 2023, directed the South East Zonal Executive Committee to nominate a replacement.

In response, the South East Zonal Executive Committee convened on October 20, 2023, and unanimously approved Okoye’s nomination. Subsequently, at its 577th meeting on November 7, 2023, the NWC deliberated on and ratified his appointment.

His confirmation was later endorsed by key party organs, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the South East Zonal Caucus, and the PDP Governors’ Forum.

The decision was officially communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the public.

The party commended the Supreme Court for upholding its autonomy, asserting that the ruling strengthens the internal democratic structure of political parties in Nigeria.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shiite Muslim's Protest turns bloody in Abuja leaving two policemen dead, others injured

Image
PHOTOS: Viewers discretion adviced!  An unplanned protest by Shiite Muslims in Abuja today has left two policemen dead, others injured with ten of the protesters gunned down by the police.  The attack which occurred around the Zone 7 police command at Zone 3 Wuse left lots of panic amongst residents and the nearby Wuse market, which was later shutdown as a result of the incident.  The remains of those killed in the course of the attack have been taken to the Wuse General Hospital while some others in critical condition were rushed to National Hospital Abuja.  So far no statement has been issued by either the Force Public Relations Officer or the group that carried out the attack.  The Supreme Leader of the Shiite group, known as the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky have been behind some key protests in the North.  After spending five months receiving medical treatment in Iran, Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah returned to Abuja early th...
Read more

Senator Chukwu Debunks Rumour Of His Exit From Labour Party

Image
Senator Kelvin Chukwu representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly has denied the fake resignation letter circulating in the media, falsely claiming that he has resigned from the Labour Party.  The Sanator described it as a deliberate act of misinformation aimed at misleading the public and causing unnecessary confusion. In a reply statement issued by the Senator's  Chief of Staff, Honorable Eneh Victor, the Senator insisted that the letter is fake in its entirety.  "It did not meet the standard of what can emanate from the stable of Senator Kelvin Chukwu. It is a handiwork of mischief makers and enemies of the senator who are threatened by his towering posture and audacious performance." "We categorically deny the authenticity of this letter and affirm that Senator Kelvin Chukwu remains a committed and active member of the Labour Party. This is yet another example of desperate political propaganda intended to undermine his position and create dis...
Read more

EEDC ANNOUNCES GENERAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE

Image
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has informed it's esteemed customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 18:48 hours today, 14th October, 2024.  According to a statement issued by EEDC Head, Corporate Communication, Emeka Eze, the collapse has resulted in the loss of supply currently being experienced across EEDC network. Consequently, due to this development, all our according to him "interface TCN stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide services to our customers in Abia, Anambra,  Ebonyi,  Enugu, and Imo States". "We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo. 
Read more