A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Samuel Anyanwu, a claimant to the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The court’s decision has significant implications for the party’s autonomy, the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the principle of judicial restraint.
The suit, which was filed by Anyanwu, sought to prevent the party from replacing him as National Secretary, despite internal party actions and judicial pronouncements to the contrary. However, the court rejected his claims, citing lack of jurisdiction over internal party affairs, abuse of court process, and the expiration of Anyanwu’s tenure.
The judgment reinforces a constitutional principle that leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters that should be resolved within the party. This ruling is in line with recent Supreme Court judgments, including Julius Abure vs Nenadi Usman and INEC vs SDP, which emphasized the importance of party autonomy and the need for courts to exercise restraint in intervening in internal party disputes.
The court’s decision also has implications for INEC, which had cited “factionalisation” within the PDP as a reason for not recognizing the party’s leadership. With Anyanwu’s claims dismissed, his status as a co-signatory to party documents is no longer valid, and INEC may be compelled to recognize the party’s legitimate leadership.
Umar Sani, a chieftain of the PDP, has welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a “defining legal and political moment” for the party. He noted that the judgment validates the concerns raised by the party’s leadership regarding judicial impartiality and the need for courts to avoid taking sides in internal party disputes.
The dismissal of Anyanwu’s suit is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the PDP and the country’s political landscape. It is likely to pave the way for the party to move forward with its internal processes, free from judicial interference. As the party prepares for future elections, the court’s decision is a significant development that will be closely watched by political observers and stakeholders.
