The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, from taking any steps that could undermine the interests of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order on Monday during the hearing of a suit filed by Anyanwu, who alleged attempts to sideline him from party affairs while he challenges an Appeal Court judgment in Enugu that affects his position.
At a previous hearing on February 19, the judge declined Anyanwu’s request for an ex-parte order to prevent INEC from accepting PDP documents not signed by him.
Instead, Ekwo directed that INEC and Damagun be notified and given a chance to respond.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu seeks interim orders to stop INEC from acting on any PDP correspondence not signed by him and to prevent Damagun from submitting such documents without his countersignature.
During Monday’s proceedings, INEC, represented by lawyer Ahmed Mohammed, confirmed receiving court documents but instead of responding to the interim orders, filed a counter-affidavit challenging the case.
Justice Ekwo warned INEC against taking any action that could affect the pending suit, emphasizing that the commission had not provided a valid reason to ignore the interim requests.
“The first and second defendants (INEC and Damagun) are ordered not to take any steps that contradict the applicant’s prayers until further notice,” the judge ruled, granting an accelerated hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing the PDP and Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu, Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Paul Ogbole (SAN), informed the court of their clients’ applications to join the suit.
Anyanwu’s counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), acknowledged the filings but stated that he was still within the timeframe to respond.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to February 28 for the hearing of all pending applications.