Samuel Anyanwu has taken his legal battle with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to the Court of Appeal, challenging a Federal Capital Territory High Court decision that struck out his suit.
In a Notice of Appeal, Anyanwu is contesting the January 12, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court in Abuja, which declined jurisdiction over his case against party officials, including then acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagum.
The lower court had ruled that the matter was an internal party dispute and that the plaintiff failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
In the appeal, Anyanwu is arguing that the trial judge erred in law by declaring the suit premature and incompetent.
He insists that his claims go beyond internal party affairs and raise fundamental constitutional issues, particularly his right to fair hearing under the 1999 Constitution.
MUST READ: Benue Police Rescue 5 Abducted Passengers
The appellant also faults the court’s position that it lacked jurisdiction, maintaining that the alleged actions of the party’s National Disciplinary Committee violated both the Constitution and the PDP’s own rules.
He argues that the committee acted outside its powers, especially as the allegations against him were criminal in nature.
Anyanwu further contends that the lower court was wrong to hold that no reasonable cause of action was disclosed against the defendants, insisting that all parties named in the suit played key roles in the disputed disciplinary proceedings.
He is also challenging the court’s conclusion that his suit constituted an abuse of court process, reiterating that he has an unfettered right to seek judicial redress where constitutional breaches are alleged.
The appeal raises nine grounds, all seeking to overturn the High Court’s decision and restore the suit for determination on the merits.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
