PDP Spokesperson Addresses Court Ruling on Damagum’s Removal
Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the coalition of opposition lawmakers in Nigeria, has clarified that there is currently no court order preventing the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Acting National Chairman Ambassador Illiya Damagun.
Ugochinyere expressed support for the NWC’s decision to take action regarding Damagun’s position in a statement issued in Abuja. He emphasized that no Federal or State High Court had issued any orders before the long-anticipated move to remove him.
Following Damagun’s suspension, the NWC appointed Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed, the party’s National Treasurer, as the new Acting National Chairman.
However, he acknowledged that Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had issued a restraining order on Friday, preventing the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagun. Justice Lifu ruled that no other individual should be recognized as the National Chairman until the party’s national convention, which is set for December next year.
The judge’s ruling was based on Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution, which stipulates that only a national convention has the authority to elect national officers.
In response to the court’s decision, Ugochinyere criticized the judgment, arguing that it does not impede the NWC’s authority to remove Damagun, as the ruling was issued after his suspension. He reaffirmed that Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed is the acting Chairman and mentioned that the party looks forward to the NEC meeting later this year.
Ugochinyere also called on the judiciary to avoid intervening in internal party matters, stressing the need to uphold democratic principles.
