PDP Crisis Deepens: Abuja Court Threatens INEC Chair, Anyanwu with Prison Over Contempt

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued a notice of consequences of disobedience of court order against the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan.

The court, in Form 48 dated 20th April 2026, cited by our correspondent on Tuesday, warned that they risk imprisonment if they fail to comply with its January 12, 2026, judgment dismissing Anyanwu’s suit challenging his expulsion from the PDP.

 

The notice, seen by our correspondent on Tuesday, warns both men that they risk being committed to prison for contempt if they continue to disregard the judgment delivered on January 12, 2026.

 

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The January judgment, delivered by Justice Yusuf Halilu in Suit No. CV/1050/2025, dismissed Senator Anyanwu’s legal challenge against his expulsion from the PDP.

 

The court effectively upheld the party’s decision to sack him over allegations of anti-party activities.

Despite this ruling, Anyanwu has continued to function as National Secretary and played a pivotal role in the controversial March 2026 National Convention in Abuja—a convention backed by the camp of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The political calculations are clear to Nigerian observers. Anyanwu is a known ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. His retention as National Secretary in the March convention ensures that the Wike-backed faction, led by National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, retains control over the party’s secretariat and, crucially, the issuance of nomination forms for the 2027 primaries.

 

Conversely, the faction led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and backed by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)—widely seen as loyal to the Atiku Abubakar camp—insists that Anyanwu is legally a stranger to the party.

 

The Form 48 notice, directed specifically at Senator Anyanwu and INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu (correctly identified as the current INEC boss, not Amupitan), states:

“Take notice that unless you stop further disobedience and comply forthwith/obey the judgment/order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, made on the 12th of January 2026… you will be guilty of contempt and you will be liable to be committed to prison.”

This is a significant escalation. By copying Prof. Yakubu, the court is warning the electoral umpire that recognising the Anyanwu-led secretariat could land the INEC Chairman in legal hot water.

In a strongly worded letter dated April 16, 2026, addressed to Prof. Yakubu through their counsel, Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), the Turaki-led faction has demanded the immediate withdrawal of INEC’s recognition of Anyanwu. The letter cites Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates all authorities and persons to enforce court judgments.

The letter further warned that a mere Notice of Appeal filed by Anyanwu on April 10 does not equate to a Stay of Execution. “Senator Samuel Anyanwu has ceased to be a member and officer of the PDP… The judgment dismissing his case remains subsisting and in force,” the letter read.

The faction threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against Prof. Yakubu personally and challenge INEC’s decisions in court if the commission continues to deal with Anyanwu.

 

What Next for the PDP?

With multiple suits pending across various courts—including the fallout from the nullified Ibadan convention and the recognition of the Abuja convention—the PDP remains a house divided against itself.

 

The threat of jail time for the INEC Chairman over a party dispute raises the stakes significantly, potentially forcing the commission to either derecognise the Wike-backed exco or face a constitutional crisis.

For the average Nigerian voter, this legal ping-pong signals that the main opposition party is still focused on internal squabbles rather than presenting a united front to tackle the country’s economic and security challenges.