The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has warned the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Anyanwu, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, of possible imprisonment over alleged disobedience of a subsisting court order.
The warning was contained in a Form 48 notice dated April 20, 2026, cautioning that failure to comply with an earlier judgment delivered on January 12, 2026, could result in contempt proceedings. The notice arose from Suit No. CV/1050/2025 before the FCT High Court.
The court specifically directed compliance with its ruling which dismissed Anyanwu’s suit challenging his expulsion from the PDP. It stressed that continued disobedience could lead to imprisonment.
The notice, served on both parties in Abuja, marks another escalation in the PDP’s prolonged leadership crisis, which has split the party into rival factions. One faction is led by Tanimu Turaki and backed by governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, while the opposing bloc is aligned with Nyesom Wike.
The dispute dates back to March 2025 when the party’s disciplinary committee recommended Anyanwu’s expulsion over alleged anti-party activities, a decision later ratified by party leadership.
Although Anyanwu challenged the decision in court, Justice Yusuf Halilu dismissed the suit in January 2026. He has since appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Despite the ruling, Anyanwu continued to act in his capacity as national secretary and participated in a March 2026 convention backed by the Wike faction, which produced a parallel leadership recognised by INEC.
Meanwhile, the Turaki led faction has urged INEC to withdraw recognition of Anyanwu, insisting that the subsisting judgment remains binding. The group warned that failure to comply could result in further legal action and contempt proceedings against the electoral body.
