A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has issued a formal warning notice over the alleged violation of a previous court judgment involving senior figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including its national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan.
In a document dated April 20, 2026, the court cautioned that both officials could face contempt proceedings, including possible imprisonment, if they fail to comply with its earlier ruling delivered on January 12, 2026, which dismissed Anyanwu’s legal challenge against his expulsion from the PDP.
The notice, known as Form 48, is part of enforcement procedures that signal consequences for continued disobedience of a court order. It specifically referenced Suit No. CV/1050/2025, where Samuel Anyanwu was the respondent, while senior PDP figures and other stakeholders were listed as applicants.
Among those named in the proceedings is Prof Joash Amupitan, who was also directed to ensure compliance with the judgment.
The court warning stated that failure to obey the ruling would amount to contempt and could lead to imprisonment.
The political dispute is linked to ongoing internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party, which has been split into rival factions and has faced multiple court cases over leadership control and disciplinary actions.
The crisis deepened after disciplinary actions and conventions that led to conflicting leadership claims, with courts at various levels being asked to interpret the validity of expulsions and party decisions.
Following the January 2026 judgment, Samuel Anyanwu later proceeded to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, continuing his legal challenge despite the earlier dismissal of his suit.
The case remains part of a broader political and legal struggle over party authority, recognition, and compliance with judicial decisions.
Samuel Anyanwu
