Toba Owojaiye reporting
Enugu, Nigeria
In a groundbreaking judgment, the High Court sitting in Enugu has declared Hon. Udeh-Okoye as the immediate successor to the position of PDP National Secretary. The court addressed key aspects of the case, delivering a verdict that reshapes the political landscape.
The court’s ruling established several crucial points:
⁃ The court deemed the suit as not constituting an abuse of the court process, emphasizing the legitimacy of the legal proceedings.
⁃ Recognizing the plaintiff’s standing, the court affirmed that Hon. Udeh-Okoye had the locus standi to institute the case, adding weight to the validity of the claims.
⁃ The court found the suit to be justiciable, highlighting that the 3rd defendant, Samuel Anyanwu, aimed to portray the PDP as a lawless entity. This underscored the significance of the legal challenge.
⁃ Acknowledging a reasonable cause of action, the court affirmed the legitimacy of the case, lending credibility to the arguments presented.
The pivotal aspect of the judgment revolves around the incompatibility of Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu holding the positions of both National Secretary of PDP and gubernatorial candidate in the Imo State election. The court emphasized that this dual role violated the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, the PDP constitution, and the election guidelines of the party.
Truth Live News gathered that the court explicitly stated that Senator Anyanwu, by simultaneously acting as both judge and contestant in the PDP gubernatorial primary, assumed the role of an emperor. The ruling asserted that Anyanwu ceased to be the National Secretary of PDP the moment he became the party’s gubernatorial flagbearer in Imo State.
Furthermore, the court affirmed the replacement of Anyanwu with Hon. Udeh-Okoye by the PDP South East Zonal Executive Committee. This replacement, according to the court, aligns with the provisions of the PDP constitution.
Certified true copies of the judgment order and the complete judgment are attached and made available to Truth Live News for public scrutiny.