The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday evening named Hon. Setonji Koshoedo the party’s acting National Secretary.
Until his appointment, Koshoedo was the Deputy National Secretary.
Announcing the appointment after the NWC meeting on Tuesday, the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum explained that Koshoedo’s appointment is pending the determination of the case before the Enugu High Court.
“We decided that the Deputy National Secretary should take over in an acting capacity pending the resolution of the court case. We also direct parties involved in the court case to stand down action for the party’s due process”, Damagum said.
Earlier on Tuesday, an Abuja Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered Senator Samuel Anyanwu to cease parading himself as party’s National Secretary.
The order was sequel to a suit seeking for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the PDP from recognising Anyanwu as National Secretary of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The suit, marked FCT/HC/M/015/23, has Douglas Nwachukwu as the complainant, while the PDP, Anyanwu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were listed as the defendants.
After hearing a motion on notice from F. S. Jimba, counsel for the applicant, Justice M. M. Adamu restrained Anyanwu from parading himself as the National Secretary of the PDP.
Adamu also restrained the PDP and INEC from recognising Anyanwu as the National Secretary pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The matter was adjourned to 24th January 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.
Anyanwu was the governorship candidate of the PDP in just concluded election in Imo State. He lost to the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Governor Hope Uzodinma.
However, Anyanwu resumed his office as the National Secretary at the party’s National Secretariat on Tuesday.
Some party stakeholders had demanded his resignation as National Secretary before Saturday’s election.
Addressing staff of the PDP National Secretariat on Tuesday, Anyanwu thanked members of the party for their support during the election in Imo State.