The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s request to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing his removal as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, who presided over the case, ruled that Anyanwu’s request could not be granted through an ex-parte application. Instead, the judge instructed him to formally notify INEC and other involved parties so they could present their arguments before the court.
Anyanwu had approached the court with an urgent application, asking it to restrain INEC from acknowledging any official documents from the PDP unless they were signed by him. His counsel, K.C.O. Njemanze (SAN), argued that allowing anyone else to send correspondences to INEC would undermine his authority as the party’s secretary.
Additionally, Anyanwu sought an order to prevent Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagun from submitting any official documents to INEC unless they carried his signature.
After considering the submissions, Justice Ekwo noted that while Anyanwu had presented a case of urgency, it would not be appropriate to grant his request without hearing from the other parties involved. The judge stressed that all parties must be given a fair chance to state their positions before the court makes any ruling.
As a result, the court directed Anyanwu to serve legal notices to INEC and Damagun, informing them about the case. Justice Ekwo then scheduled February 24 as the date for the hearing, when all sides will have the opportunity to present their arguments.
