A 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 adversely affect the interests of the party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Monday at the resumed hearing in a suit filed by Anyanwu, in which he is alleging among others, that there were plots to sideline him in the running of the party even when he is the process of challenging a judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu which affected the office of the PDP National Secretary.
At the last hearing on February 19, Justice Ekwo refused to issue an ex-parte order sought by Anyanwu to stop INEC from acting on any document from the PDP without his signature as the National Secretary.
The judge held that it would be appropriate for the respondents – INEC and Damagun – to be put on notice for them to come and show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.
He then ordered Anyanwu to serve the court documents on INEC and Damagun for them to show cause why the reliefs sought in the motion ex-parte should not be granted.
The judge adjourned till February 24 for the respondents to show cause.
The reliefs, as contained in the motion, filed along with the substantive suit, marked:marked: 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 counter signed by him, pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed simultaneously with this motion ex-parte.
At the mention of the case on Monday, INEC represented by a lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, but Damagun was not represented.
Mohammed told the court that his client filed a counter- affidavit to challenge the competence of the suit.
He confirmed being served with all court documents relating to the case, but said INEC did not file any an affidavit to show cause as ordered by the court.
Justice Ekwo then noted that rather than respond to Anyanwu’s application for interim orders, INEC chose to delve into the substantive case by filing a counter-affidavit.
The judge warned INEC not to take any action that would adversely affect the suit pending before the court.
He said: “INEC has not given any tangible reason to show cause, but rather filed a process that goes to the substance of the matter.
“Therefore, 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 said.
At that point lawyers to the PDP and Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu – Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Paul Ogbole (SAN) told the court that their clients have applied to be joined as parties in the suit.
Lawyer to Anyanwu, Ken Njemanze (SAN) confirmed being served with the joinder applications, but noted that the time for him to respond to them had not elapsed.