The Supreme Court declared Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate PDP National Secretary, overturning the Court of Appeal's decision. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the party's internal matters, revealing deeper divisions within the PDP.

The Supreme Court on Friday declared Samuel Anyanwu, a loyalist of Nyesom Wike, as the legitimate National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This decision overturned the earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which had rejected Mr. Anyanwu’s position as the opposition party’s national secretary.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court asserted that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, emphasizing that it was an internal affair of the PDP. Justice Jamilu Tukur, who delivered the lead judgment, noted that the circumstances necessary to grant the court jurisdiction over the internal matters of a political party were absent.

This ruling came just a week after the apex court had reserved its decision on Mr. Anyanwu’s appeal challenging his removal from office. Mr. Anyanwu had contested the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed a lower court's decision that recognized Sunday Udey-Okoye as the party's national secretary.

In his appeal, Mr. Anyanwu argued that Article 47 of the PDP constitution guarantees a four-year single term for party officers, asserting that there was no legal basis for the concurrent judgments of the lower courts that ousted him from his position.

The controversy over the PDP’s national secretary position began when South-East governors demanded that Mr. Anyanwu step down due to his intention to contest the governorship election in Imo State. This situation has exposed a significant rift within the party, with certain key stakeholders opposing the perceived influence of Nyesom Wike over the PDP's leadership.

The judgment is expected to have implications for the internal dynamics of the party, further highlighting the ongoing power struggle within the PDP.