The Supreme Court has affirmed Samuel Anyanwu, an ally of the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesome Wike as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice Jamilu Tukur who heads a five-member panel of the apex court, gave the ruling on Friday, saying leadership or membership is an internal affair of and a prerogative of a political party which no court should entertain.
Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye had been involved in a struggle for the position, causing division among the party stakeholders.
However, Ude-Okoye was supported by stakeholders of the party who based their action on the ruling of an Appeal Court sitting in Enugu.
The appellate court affirmed the removal of Anyanwu by a Federal High Court in Enugu.
While delivering the judgement, the Supreme Court said the exceptional circumstances that would have given jurisdiction to the Court to decide on the internal affairs of a political party were missing.
Justice Tukur said these exceptional circumstances are: if the Nigerian Constitution gives the Court such jurisdiction, when there is the commission of a crime or violation of contractual rights.
Anyanwu had left as the National Secretary of the party to vie for the Imo governorship election which he lost. He returned and wanted to resume his position which caused the crisis leading up to the apex court.
An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu had on December 20, 2024, upheld an earlier decision of a High Court removing Senator Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary and affirming Ude-Okoye as the authentic secretary.
Anyanwu, however, filed for a Stay of Execution and appeal.
