The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former factional National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking legal recognition as the party’s scribe, after the court held that the matter had been overtaken by events following the expiration of his tenure.
Justice Mohammed Umar struck out the suit on Tuesday after it was confirmed that Anyanwu’s tenure as PDP National Secretary ended in December 2025.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, was instituted by Anyanwu against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, as first and second defendants.
In the ex parte motion dated and filed on February 13, 2025, by his counsel, Ken Njemanze, Anyanwu sought interim injunctions restraining INEC from accepting or acting on any correspondence from the PDP not signed by him, pending the determination of a motion on notice. He also asked the court to restrain Damagun from forwarding any correspondence to INEC purportedly emanating from the PDP without his countersignature.
However, on February 28, 2025, the court joined the PDP and Sunday Udeh-Okoye as third and fourth defendants. Justice Umar also joined Dr. Ali Odela, the PDP National Vice Chairman (South East), and Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, the party’s Deputy National Secretary, as fifth and sixth defendants respectively.
When the matter came up for hearing, Anyanwu’s counsel, U.C. Njemanze-Aku, informed the court that his client’s tenure had since expired in December 2025. He told the court that continuing with the suit would be improper as it had been overtaken by events.
“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” the lawyer said.
Reacting, counsel to INEC, Akintayo Balogun, argued that the suit should not have been filed in the first place and urged the court to dismiss it with costs. He also requested the award of N1 million against the plaintiff.
The case had earlier witnessed developments in November 2025 when Justice Umar granted Anyanwu’s application to amend his originating summons but awarded a cost of N30,000 against him, payable to each of the defendants. The matter was then adjourned to January 20 for hearing.
In his ruling, Justice Umar dismissed the suit, bringing an end to Anyanwu’s legal bid to secure recognition as PDP National Secretary amid the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
