Federal High Court Dismisses PDP Secretary’s Fresh Suit After Withdrawal

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed a fresh lawsuit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu concerning the position of National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following his application to withdraw the case.

Anyanwu’s counsel, U. C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that the suit had been “overtaken by events” and applied to withdraw it in the interest of justice, to save the court’s time.

The legal dispute stems from Anyanwu’s vacating of the PDP National Secretary office to contest the Imo State governorship election in 2023. His subsequent bid to reclaim the position led to an internal party crisis, with Sunday Udeh-Okoye emerging as a rival claimant.

Although the Supreme Court ruled in Anyanwu’s favor in March 2025, overturning earlier judgments that had removed him, the leadership tussle persisted. This prompted Anyanwu to file the now-withdrawn suit at the Federal High Court to seek enforcement of his position.

During the hearing, counsels for several defendants did not oppose the withdrawal but urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs, arguing it should not have been filed initially. Requests for costs ranged from one million to 1.5 million naira.

In response, Anyanwu’s lawyer stated the withdrawal was due to circumstances beyond his client’s control and pleaded that parties bear their own costs.

Presiding Judge Ahmed Mohammed dismissed the suit as requested. On the issue of costs, he declined to award any, stating the delay was not caused by any party and was due to the prevailing situation.

The dismissal brings an end to this specific legal chapter in the prolonged dispute over the PDP’s national secretariat.