The Federal High Court has officially activated the “Gallows of Contempt” against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The court issued a Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) against the INEC Chair. The move follows the Commission’s alleged refusal to comply with a subsisting judgment regarding the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The crisis centers on Samuel Anyanwu. While the court had previously restrained Anyanwu from parading himself as the PDP National Secretary, the petitioners allege that INEC has continued to recognize him in official capacities, effectively defying the court’s decree.
The Legal Stakes: This is not a mere slap on the wrist. Form 48 is the final warning before Form 49, which would move to commit the INEC Chairman to prison for contempt. The court has signaled that the neutrality of the electoral umpire does not exempt its leadership from judicial mandates.
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