The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 22, 2025, for the hearing of a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu to determine the rightful National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Anyanwu, through his lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN), had approached the court with an ex parte application dated February 13, asking for an interim injunction to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from acting on any PDP correspondence not signed by him.
He also sought to restrain PDP Acting Chairman Umar Damagun from submitting such correspondence to INEC without his countersignature.
However, the court declined to grant the application without first hearing from the defendants.
The suit initially listed INEC and Damagun as the 1st and 2nd defendants. The PDP, Mr. Udeh-Okoye, PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East) Ali Odela, and Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo were later joined as the 3rd to 6th defendants.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who initially presided over the case, had fixed March 25 for judgment. But before that date, Anyanwu applied to amend his originating process.
The hearing was then postponed to May 19, but the case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Mohammed Umar.
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At the resumed sitting on Thursday, June 26, Justice Umar, hearing the matter for the first time, scheduled a definite hearing for September 22 following the parties’ agreement.
Anyanwu was represented by U.C. Njemanze-Aku, while Paul Erokoro (SAN) appeared for Udeh-Okoye and Paul-Harris Ogbole (SAN) for the PDP.
Njemanze-Aku told the court, “My Lord, the matter is for mention today. We have received an e-letter of adjournment written to this court by the fifth defendant.”
She requested an earlier date, preferably in July. Other parties in court supported this suggestion.
However, Erokoro told the judge the matter had already been settled by the Supreme Court, which ruled that such disputes fall within the internal affairs of political parties.
“The same plaintiff who argued that the court has no jurisdiction is now the one who brought us here,” he added.
Justice Umar directed all parties to respond to Anyanwu’s motion for amendment. While acknowledging the request for a July hearing, the court was unable to find a date that worked for everyone and settled on September 22 to hear all motions and objections.