The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, issued an injunction preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leadership from removing Mr. Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman. Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the virtual session monitored by news outlets in Abuja, delivered the judgment.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu ordered the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) to refrain from recognizing any other person as the party’s national chairman until the party’s national convention, scheduled for December 2025.
The judge clarified that in accordance with Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution, the election of national officers can only occur at the national convention. He emphasized, “Members of the PDP are bound by the constitution of the party and must act within its provisions and respect its laws.”
This ruling stems from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024, filed by Sen. Umar Maina and represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joshua Musa. Maina, who is the PDP chairman in Yobe, accused certain party stakeholders of holding secret meetings to orchestrate the removal of Damagum, contrary to the party’s constitution.
The plaintiff revealed that these meetings aimed to replace Damagum with former Kogi Deputy Governor, Dr. Phillip Salawu. Maina further disclosed that two formal complaints had been sent to PDP’s national secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, but no action was taken despite acknowledgment of the letters.
In response, the plaintiff urged the court to invoke relevant articles of the PDP Constitution, specifically Articles 45, 47, and 67, to prevent the unlawful removal of Damagum.
He also sought a declaration that the national chairmanship should be rotated between the northern and southern regions, as stipulated by the constitution.
Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s position, stating that Damagum could only be replaced at the national convention or by a court order.
He concluded that any attempt to prematurely end the northern region’s four-year leadership tenure, without due process, would be a violation of the PDP’s constitution.
