An Enugu State High Court has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to replace the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as its National Secretary.
Tracknews Media reports that the court order follows a motion on notice filed by Nwabueze Ugwu asking the high court to declare Senator Anyanwu’s seat vacant.
The presiding judge, Justice C.O Ajah, ordered the defendants in the suit – the PDP National Chairman, the PDP National Secretary, and the National Vice Chairman, South-East – to recognize Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate recommended by the South-East Zonal Executive Committee to replace Anyanwu pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The judge stated that the motion on notice was brought under order 38 rule 1, order 39 rule 1 of High Court rules of Enugu State 2020, supported by 23-paragraph affidavits deposed to by the applicant.
Justice Ajah ordered as follows: “That an Interim Order is hereby granted as prayed.
“That the 2 Defendant/Respondent is hereby ordered to recognize within 24 hours of the service of this order on him, HON. S.K.E. UDEH-OKOYE (the person recommended by the South East Zonal Executive Committee of the 1” Defendant /Respondent; pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
“That this Order will lapse after seven (7) days from today in accordance with the Rules of this Court.
“That the matter is adjourned to 30/10/2023 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.”
Recall the South East Zonal Executive Committee of the PDP announced Udeh-Okoye’s nomination to replace Anyanwu in a communique dated October 20, 2023.
According to the communique, the unanimous decision to replace Anywanwu was reached at a meeting attended by members across the geopolitical zone on Friday.
Party members in the region expressed the view that Anyanwu assuming the roles of national secretary and standard-bearer for the PDP in Imo would be a distraction.
