22/04/2026
FCT High Court Issues Contempt Warning to PDP’s Anyanwu, INEC Chairman Amupitan
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has issued a Form 48 notice of consequences of disobedience of court order against the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan.
In the notice dated April 20, 2026, and sighted on Tuesday, the court warned that both officials risk imprisonment for contempt if they fail to comply with its January 12, 2026 judgment, which dismissed Anyanwu’s suit challenging his expulsion from the PDP.
The warning, issued in Suit No. CV/1050/2025, stated that continued disobedience of the court’s decision would amount to contempt of court, punishable by committal to prison.
The Form 48 notice read in part: “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.”
The notice was specifically directed at Senator Anyanwu and Prof. Amupitan, with service reportedly effected at their Abuja addresses in line with enforcement procedures.
In the suit, Anyanwu is listed as the respondent, while key PDP stakeholders, including members of the party’s National Executive Committee led by Ambassador Umar Damagum, are listed as judgment creditors/applicants. The INEC Chairman is also a party in the matter.
The PDP has remained deeply divided over leadership control, splitting into rival factions led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN), backed by Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, and another group aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike under Abdulrahman Mohammed.
The crisis has triggered multiple court cases, many of which remain pending.
Anyanwu had earlier been recommended for expulsion by the PDP National Disciplinary Committee on March 10, 2025, over alleged anti-party activities. The decision was later ratified by the party leadership.
He was subsequently expelled during the disputed Ibadan convention on November 15, 2025, an outcome later nullified by the courts.
Following his expulsion, Anyanwu approached the FCT High Court in Suit No. CV/1050/2025, but Justice Yusuf Halilu dismissed his case on January 12, 2026. He later filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on April 10, 2026.
Despite ongoing litigation, Anyanwu participated in the Wike-backed PDP convention held on March 29–30, 2026, in Abuja, which produced Abdulrahman Mohammed as national chairman and reaffirmed him as national secretary. The outcome was subsequently recognised by INEC.
Meanwhile, the Turaki-led faction has intensified pressure on INEC, writing a letter dated April 16, 2026, demanding the withdrawal of recognition of Anyanwu as PDP national secretary.
The letter, signed by counsel Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), argued that the January 12, 2026 judgment remains valid and enforceable, insisting that Anyanwu ceased to be a PDP member following his expulsion.
It warned that failure by INEC to comply could trigger contempt proceedings against the commission’s leadership and legal action to challenge its decisions.
The development marks a fresh escalation in the PDP leadership crisis, which continues to generate legal and political uncertainty within the opposition party.
