Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the embattled national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), requested that Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from implementing his dismissal as party secretary, but the court denied his request.

Instead, the judge mandated that Anyanwu serve notice to INEC and other defendants in his new suit so that he can hear their arguments.

Anyanwu filed an ex-parte action with the Federal High Court on Wednesday, pleading with the judge to prevent INEC or any of its representatives from accepting or acting upon any written submissions or correspondence that came from the PDP or would come from it other than those that he personally signed.

Anyanwu further requested in the suit, which was argued by his attorney, K.C.O. Njemanze (SAN), that Justice Ekwo prevent Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagun from sending any written submissions, papers, or letters to INEC unless he signs them.

In a succinct ruling following the plaintiff’s submissions, Justice Ekwo stated that he was certain that a case of urgency had been made after considering Anyanwu’s arguments in favor of his claim.

However, the court stated that he would like to speak with the defendants before making any orders and would not approve the plaintiff’s request through an ex-parte motion.

Therefore, he gave Anyanwu instructions to notify INEC and Damagun of the new suit so they can come to court and have their cases heard.

Justice Ekwo set a hearing date of February 24 and instructed the plaintiff to serve the two defendants with court documents.