PDP Shifts Leadership Battle To Court

The ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has escalated into a legal battle as members await a ruling on a motion for a stay of execution filed by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Anyanwu is seeking to halt the enforcement of an Appeal Court decision that upheld his removal from office by a High Court in Enugu, which had declared Sunday Ude-Okoye as the rightful PDP National Secretary.

The Appeal Court in Enugu upheld the High Court’s decision on December 20, 2024. Anyanwu subsequently filed for a stay of execution and appeal, with the ruling on the motion expected today.

The choice of legal representation has further divided the party. Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, an ally of Anyanwu, appointed the chambers of Dr. J.Y. Musa SAN to represent the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) in the case.

This decision has been contested by 11 out of the 17 NWC members, who allege that Damagum and Anyanwu acted unilaterally in appointing the legal team without consulting the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN, or securing approval from the NWC.

Key NWC members, including Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and National Treasurer Alhaji Yayari Ahmed, have dissociated the party from Anyanwu’s appeal.

They communicated their opposition in a letter to the President of the Appeal Court, asserting that the decision to engage Musa’s chambers was not representative of the NWC’s position.