The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, from taking any further steps that could negatively impact the interests of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order in response to a suit filed by Anyanwu, who alleged that there were moves to sideline him in the party’s affairs, even as he continues to challenge a judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu that affected his position as PDP National Secretary.
During the last hearing on February 19, Justice Ekwo declined to grant an ex-parte order sought by Anyanwu to prevent INEC from acting on any document from the PDP without his signature as National Secretary.
Instead, he ruled that the respondents—INEC and Damagun—must be given an opportunity to show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.
The judge then directed Anyanwu to serve the court documents on the respondents and adjourned the case to February 24 for them to present their arguments.
Among the reliefs sought in the motion, filed alongside the substantive suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025), are:
“An order of interim injunction, restraining INEC, its servants or officers, from accepting, acting on or giving effect to any correspondence, letter, document, mail, notice, form and or written submission purported to emanate from the PDP not signed by him pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously with this motion ex-parte.”
“An order of interim injunction restraining the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, or his agents from forwarding, sending or dispatching to INEC any correspondence, letter, document, mail, notice, form and or written submission purported to emanate from the PDP, signed by the acting Chairman and not countersigned by him, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously with this motion ex-parte.”
At Monday’s hearing, INEC was represented by a lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, while Damagun had no legal representation.
Mohammed informed the court that INEC had filed a counter-affidavit challenging the competence of the suit. He also confirmed receiving all court documents related to the case but admitted that INEC had not filed an affidavit to show cause as ordered by the court.
Justice Ekwo observed that instead of responding to Anyanwu’s application for interim orders, INEC had chosen to address the substantive case by filing a counter-affidavit.
“INEC has not given any tangible reason to show cause, but rather filed a process that goes to the substance of the matter,” the judge remarked.
He then issued a warning to INEC, stating, “It is the order of this court that INEC should not do anything contrary to the prayers of the applicant until further order of this court. The first and second defendants (INEC and Damagun) are ordered not to do anything or take action that will contravene the prayers of the applicant.”
“I hereby make an order for accelerated hearing of this matter,” Justice Ekwo added.
During proceedings, lawyers representing the PDP and Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu—Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Paul Ogbole (SAN)—informed the court that their clients had applied to be joined as parties in the suit.
Anyanwu’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN), acknowledged receipt of the joinder applications but noted that the time for his response had not elapsed.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter to February 28 for the hearing of all pending applications.
