Court Prevents PDP NEC and BoT from Dismissing Damagum as Acting National Chairman
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order prohibiting the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagum from his position as Acting National Chairman.
The court specified that only Damagum should be recognized as the party’s national chairman until the national convention scheduled for December next year.
This ruling was delivered in response to a lawsuit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina against the PDP and eight other parties. Justice Lifu emphasized that according to Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution, the election of national officers can only occur at the national convention.
The plaintiff, claiming to be the chairman of the PDP in Yobe State, alleged that certain party stakeholders were clandestinely planning to oust Damagum, in direct violation of the party’s constitution. He pointed out that Phillip Salawu, a former deputy governor of Kogi State, was being promoted as a potential replacement.
Maina stated that after learning of these secret meetings, he sent two letters to the national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, highlighting his concerns. Despite acknowledgment of these letters, he claimed that neither the national secretary nor the BoT acted on them.
Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joshua Musa, Maina requested the court to enforce the PDP Constitution and halt any attempts to replace Damagum as Acting National Chairman.
Justice Lifu affirmed that the plaintiff’s case was rooted in the protection of the PDP Constitution and the interests of the northern region he represents, ensuring that their tenure was not compromised. The judge noted that Maina had sufficiently demonstrated his standing by presenting his PDP membership card and raising legitimate constitutional concerns.
