The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned till March 10 for hearing in the appeal filed by the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

A five-member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, fixed the date while delivering a ruling on the motion for accelerated hearing of the appeal filed by Anyanwu.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had last December upheld a High Court decision that sacked Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP.

The appellate court subsequently upheld Chief Ude Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the main opposition party.

In the lead judgement delivered by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the appellate court held that Anyanwu’s appeal was incompetent and lacking in merit.

The Appeal Court held that the appellant violated the PDP’s constitution by laying claim to the National Secretary position, having contested and emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2024 governorship election in Imo State.

In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Anyanwu asked the apex court to set aside the judgement of the two lower courts and recognise him as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP.

He said Emmanuel Aniagu, who went to court, had no locus standi as he did not follow all internal mechanisms as contained in the party’s constitution to resolve the dispute, insisting that the dispute was internal to the party.

He asked the Supreme Court to review his sack from office, insisting that the appellate court disregarded the party’s constitutional provision indicating that there was no vacancy in the office of the National Secretary of the PDP.

He also said there was no evidence that the plaintiff was a member of the party who paid his membership dues.

He also filed a motion for accelerated hearing as well as an abridgment of time on the grounds of the crucial role of the office of National Secretary.

Delivering a ruling on the motion on Tuesday, the apex court granted the application and ordered service of the court processes on the respondent, Mr Aniagu Emmanuel, who must file his reply brief within three days of service.

Anyanwu, on the other hand, was given two days to reply on the point of law and the court subsequently fixed March 10 for hearing.

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