A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing it’s National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
According to a copy of the order made available to NAN on Friday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the matter, granted the ex-parte motion moved by Joshua Musa, SAN, on Thursday.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until Dec. 4 for hearing of the motion on notice.
Anyanwu who was the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the November 11 off-cycle election in Imo State governorship has been facing threat of removal from his position as Secretary of the party.
News About Nigeria reports that following threats of his removal, two members of the party; Geoffrey Ihentuge and Apollo’s Godspower had filed a suit against the PDP, Umar Damagun (the Acting National Chairman) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) over their attempt to remove Anyanwu.
Other defendants listed in the suit are, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiffs, prayed the court to give an order of interim injunction, restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from carrying out the threat to remove the PDP National Secretary.
They also asked the court to issue an order to stop the PDP and its executives from preventing Anyanwu from discharging his duty as an elected national Officer as contained in Article 36(1) of the Constitution of the party.
In their suit, they also prayed the court to issue an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP and it’s executives from appointing any person as acting national secretary of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice because Anyanwu’s tenure is still running until 9th of December, 2025.
The duo also sought an order from the court restraining INEC who is the 5th defendant in the suit from recognising any purported appointment of any person as PDP’s national secretary whether in acting capacity or otherwise other than Anyanwu.
Justice Ekwo in his ruling granted the prayers for interim orders after the ex-pate motion was moved.
