The Taminu Turaki-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey court order directing the commission to immediately withdraw its recognition of Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the party. The faction, in a petition sent to the commission, premised its argument upon the fact that there is a subsisting Judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory affirming the expulsion of Anyanwu from the party. A copy of the petition seen by Weehend Trust on Friday, was signed by the Legal Team led by Abdulaziz Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The petition noted that on March 10, 2025, the National Disciplinary Committee of the party recommended the expulsion of Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the party over “anti-party activities whose recommendation was accepted and implemented by the party.” Accordingly, Anayanwu also challenged his expulsion from the Party by instituting a Suit No. CV/1050/2025- Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu Vs AMB.

Iliya Damagum & 8 others before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and on January 12, 2026, the Court delivered judgment dismissing his case. The legal team said what that meant was that Anyanwu ceased to be member and officer of the PDP and has “no competence to act on behalf of the party in any capacity whatsoever since his expulsion. “Anyanwu being fully aware of the import of the judgment against him only filed Notice of Appeal just few days ago against the decision affirming his expulsion which does not amount to a stay.

“By implication, the judgment of the Court dismissing his case challenging his expulsion is subsisting and remain in force and the Commission has constitutional obligation to enforce, comply and implement the judgment even without prompting”. The legal team, therefore, tasked the Commission that the recognition being accorded Anyanwu by INEC in the face of the “subsisting judgment of court of competent jurisdiction affirming his expulsion from the Party is an affront to the sanctity of the judiciary and a public institution like INEC should not champion assault on the judiciary.”