A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a Form 48 notice of consequences of disobedience of court order against the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan.
The court warned that both officials risk imprisonment if they fail to comply with its January 12, 2026 judgment, which dismissed Anyanwu’s suit challenging his expulsion from the PDP.
The notice, issued on April 20, 2026, stated that continued disobedience of the court’s ruling would amount to contempt, punishable by imprisonment.
In Suit No. CV/1050/2025, Anyanwu is listed as the respondent, while PDP leaders, including members of the party’s National Executive Committee, are listed as judgment creditors. INEC Chairman Amupitan was also named in the case.
The court’s warning followed its earlier judgment delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu, which upheld Anyanwu’s expulsion from the PDP and dismissed his legal challenge.
The PDP has remained deeply divided, with rival factions led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and Abdulrahman Mohammed, both laying claim to the party’s leadership structure.
While one faction is backed by Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, the other is supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Despite the ruling, Anyanwu has continued to engage in party activities and was involved in the Wike-backed convention held in March 2026, which produced a new leadership later recognised by INEC.
The Turaki-led faction has since written to INEC, insisting that Anyanwu’s expulsion remains valid and demanding that he be stripped of all party recognition.
They argue that his appeal does not constitute a stay of execution and that the court judgment remains binding under the 1999 Constitution.
The PDP crisis continues to play out in court, with multiple pending cases and escalating tensions over control of the party’s structure ahead of future elections.
