The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining 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 be detrimental to the interests of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the directive on Monday during the hearing of a case brought by Anyanwu, who claimed there were attempts to sideline him from party activities while he challenges an Appeal Court ruling in Enugu that impacts his position.
At a previous session on February 19, the judge declined Anyanwu’s request for an ex-parte order to prevent INEC from recognizing PDP documents not signed by him. Instead, he instructed that both INEC and Damagun be informed and given the opportunity to present their arguments.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu seeks a temporary order preventing INEC from acting on any PDP documents not bearing his signature and stopping Damagun from submitting such correspondence without his approval.
During Monday’s proceedings, INEC’s legal representative, Ahmed Mohammed, confirmed that the commission had received court documents but, rather than addressing the interim reliefs sought, filed a counter-affidavit challenging the case.
Justice Ekwo cautioned INEC against making any decisions that could impact the ongoing legal process, emphasizing that the commission had not provided sufficient justification to disregard the interim requests.
“The first and second defendants (INEC and Damagun) are hereby ordered not to take any actions contrary to the applicant’s request until further notice,” the judge ruled, granting an expedited hearing of the matter.
Meanwhile, counsel for the PDP and Udeh-Okoye Enemchukwu, Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Paul Ogbole (SAN), informed the court of their clients’ applications to join the case.
Anyanwu’s lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN), acknowledged the filings and stated that he was still within the timeframe to file a response.
The court adjourned the case to February 28 for the hearing of all pending applications.
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