The Supreme Court on Friday declared Samuel Anyanwu, Nyesom Wike’s loyalist, as the legitimate National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party.

In its judgment, the apex court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Enugu, which stood against Mr Anyanwu as the opposition’s national secretary.

The court argued that the Court of Appeal lacked the authority to hear the case, insisting it involved the party’s internal affairs.

In the lead judgment read by Justice Jamilu Tukur, the apex court further described as missing certain circumstances that would have given jurisdiction for the court to decide on the internal affairs of a political party.

This development came a week after the apex court had reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Mr Anyanwu challenging his sack from office.

Mr Anyanwu challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the high court’s judgment, favouring Sunday Udey-Okoye as the party’s national secretary.

In his appeal, Mr Anyanwu argued that Article 47 of the PDP constitution provides for a four-year single term for party officers, claiming there was no basis for the concurrent findings of the lower courts that removed him from office.

The dispute regarding the PDP’s national secretary position started when South-East governors demanded Mr Anyanwu step down due to his governorship candidature in Imo.

The development has revealed a deep-seated divide within the party, with some key stakeholders opposing Mr Wike’s influence over the leadership of the party.