The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has removed Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring Ude Okoye as his replacement.
The court upheld the earlier ruling of the Enugu High Court, which had also dismissed Anyanwu and recognized Okoye as the nominee of the South East PDP executives.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the court ruled that Anyanwu’s continued claim to the position of PDP Secretary, after contesting and emerging as the party’s governorship candidate, was a violation of the PDP constitution.
The court rejected Anyanwu’s appeal, deeming it without merit.
Reacting to the ruling, the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition welcomed the decision, describing it as a fresh beginning for the PDP.
They accused Anyanwu of being part of a destructive political agenda that undermined the opposition, and claimed that the current acting PDP chairman, Umar Damagun, would be the next to face similar consequences.
In a statement by their spokesman, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the coalition expressed full support for the judgment and for Ude Okoye as the new National Secretary.
Ugochinyere praised the courage of the Appeal Court for upholding the PDP constitution, which mandates that party members seeking elective office must resign from executive positions.
He emphasized that the decision marked the end of Anyanwu’s disruptive influence and signaled a brighter future for the PDP.
The coalition reiterated its loyalty to Okoye, describing the court’s decision as a victory for the party and its constitutional principles.
