The Supreme Court of Nigeria has overturned the rulings of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court that had removed Senator Samuel Anyanwu from his position as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, the apex court ruled that the determination of who holds the position of National Secretary in the PDP falls within the internal affairs of the party and is therefore not justiciable.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur nullified the October 2024 trial court ruling that had removed Anyanwu and also set aside the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld his dismissal in December. Instead, the Supreme Court affirmed the minority judgment of the appellate court, delivered by Justice Ekanem, which ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court held that the plaintiff, Aniagu Emmanuel, who initiated the suit, had no legal standing to challenge the position of the PDP National Secretary, as he failed to demonstrate how the matter personally affected him.

The PDP National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, PDP Governors’ Forum, and the South East Zonal Executive Committee had at different times affirmed Udeh-Okoye as the rightful National Secretary of the party. However, with this ruling, Anyanwu is officially reinstated to the position.

Despite this legal victory, Anyanwu faces another challenge within the party. Last week, the Tom Ikimi-led PDP disciplinary committee recommended his expulsion after he failed to appear before the committee to respond to allegations brought against him by the PDP Young Generation caucus. The petition accused him of engaging in anti-party activities, allegedly violating Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution.