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Fresh legal pressure has mounted on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki demands the immediate withdrawal of recognition for Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu as the party’s National Secretary.
The demand, contained in a formal letter dated April 16, 2026, comes amid the lingering crisis within the PDP, particularly in the bloc associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The letter, addressed to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, urged the commission to enforce a subsisting judgement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which affirmed Anyanwu’s expulsion from the party.
Counsel to the Turaki-led faction, Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), argued that INEC is constitutionally bound to give effect to the court’s decision, which dismissed Anyanwu’s suit challenging his expulsion. He noted that the PDP’s National Disciplinary Committee had, on March 10, 2025, recommended Anyanwu’s expulsion over alleged anti-party activities, a decision later ratified by the party leadership.
According to the legal team, Anyanwu subsequently approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to overturn the decision. However, in its January 12, 2026 ruling, the court dismissed the suit in its entirety, thereby upholding his expulsion from the party.
The lawyers emphasised that although Anyanwu has filed a notice of appeal, it does not amount to a stay of execution, meaning the judgement remains valid and binding. By implication, they argued, he has ceased to be both a member and an officer of the PDP and lacks the authority to act on its behalf.
Citing Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the Turaki faction reminded INEC that decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction are binding on all authorities and must be enforced without exception. They maintained that continued recognition of Anyanwu by the commission amounts to a violation of constitutional provisions and a disregard for judicial authority.
The faction further accused INEC of undermining the judiciary by retaining Anyanwu as National Secretary despite the subsisting judgement. It demanded that the commission expunge all recognitions accorded to him since January 12, 2026, including official correspondences and documents signed in that capacity.
In addition, the lawyers called on INEC to immediately delist Anyanwu from its official records and refrain from recognising him unless an appellate court overturns the judgement. They warned that failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings against the INEC Chairman and further legal action against the commission.
The letter also urged INEC to act prudently to avoid perceptions of enabling instability within opposition parties, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had yet to respond to the demands, raising the likelihood of a legal confrontation over the enforcement of the court’s ruling.
The development marks another twist in the protracted leadership crisis within the PDP, with growing concerns over the legal status of Anyanwu and its implications for party administration and future elections.
The dispute is also linked to broader tensions surrounding the party’s recent national convention and the emergence of rival factions. Earlier, the PDP’s National Working Committee had taken steps against Anyanwu over alleged anti-party conduct, further intensifying internal divisions.
Despite his legal challenge, the High Court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the party where due process had been followed, effectively sealing the decision that affirmed his expulsion.
