Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has rejected the request of the embattled National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from effecting his removal as Secretary of the party.

Justice Ekwo ordered Anyanwu to put INEC and other defendants in his new suit, on notice to appear in court to enable him to hear their sides.

Senator Anyanwu had approached the Federal High Court with an ex-parte application, praying the judge to restrain INEC or any of its agents from receiving or effecting any correspondences and written submissions that emanated or may emanate from the PDP except those signed by him.

In the application argued by his counsel, Anyanwu also asked Justice Ekwo to restrain Ambassador Umar Damagun from forwarding any correspondence, documents, or written submissions to INEC unless they were signed by him.

In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo held that after reviewing Anyanwu’s averments in support of his suit, he was convinced that a case of urgency was established.

The judge, however, said that he would not grant the request of the plaintiff through an ex-parte application but would prefer to hear from the defendants before issuing any order.

He, therefore, ordered Anyanwu to put INEC and Damagun on notice regarding the existence of the new suit to enable them to appear in court and have their sides heard.

Justice Ekwo directed the plaintiff to serve the court processes on the two defendants and fixed February 24 for the case to be heard.