In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Enugu has once again directed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to swear in Hon. Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary of the party. This time, the judgment comes as part of the substantive suit and not an interim order.
The court ruled that the suit was not an abuse of the court process, establishing that the plaintiff had the standing to institute the case. It deemed the suit justiciable, highlighting that the 3rd defendant, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, was attempting to portray the PDP as a lawless entity.
Crucially, the court ordered that Senator Anyanwu, by constitutional stipulations, the PDP constitution, and the election guidelines, cannot simultaneously hold the positions of National Secretary and be the gubernatorial candidate in the Imo State governorship election. The court asserted that such a dual role would make him both a judge and a contestant in the PDP gubernatorial primary, resembling an “emperor.”
The ruling emphasized that Anyanwu ceased to be the National Secretary the moment he became the gubernatorial flag bearer in Imo State. It endorsed the replacement of Anyanwu with Hon. Udeh-Okoye by the PDP South East Zonal Executive Committee, stating that it was in line with the PDP constitution.
It is worth noting that SaharaReporters previously reported on the Umar Damagum-led PDP’s consistent disobedience of court orders. The court had previously ruled on October 20, 2023, directing the National Working Committee (NWC) to acknowledge Hon. SKE Udeh-Okoye as the PDP National Secretary. On November 7, 2023, the Enugu High Court reaffirmed its order, maintaining its validity until the hearing of the motion on notice on November 27, 2023, or the determination of the Appeal in the appellate court, whichever comes first.
With the substantive suit now heard and the court delivering a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, the PDP is obligated to swear in Hon. Udeh-Okoye as the National Secretary in accordance with the court’s directives.
