A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, from taking any further steps that could adversely affect the interests of the party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order yesterday at the resumed hearing in a suit Anyanwu filed over the threat to his seat in the party.

Anyanwu is alleging, among others, that there were plots to sideline him in the running of the party, even when he is challenging a judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which affected the office of the PDP National Secretary.

At the last hearing on February 19, Justice Ekwo refused to issue an ex parte order Anyanwu sought to stop INEC from acting on any document from the PDP without his signature as the party’s National Secretary.

The judge held that it would be appropriate for the respondents – INEC and Damagum – to be put on notice for them to show cause why the reliefs Anyanwu sought should not be granted.

He ordered Anyanwu to serve the court documents on INEC and Damagum for them to show cause why the reliefs he (Anyanwu) sought in the motion ex parte should not be granted.

The judge adjourned till February 24 for the respondents to show cause.