October 11, 2024
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) preventing them from removing Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit instituted by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, chairman of the PDP in Yobe State. Maina alleged that some stakeholders were secretly planning to remove Damagum from office in violation of the party’s constitution.
According to Maina, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Phillip Salawu, was being pushed as Damagum’s replacement. He claimed that despite acknowledging two letters complaining about the clandestine meetings, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and BoT members failed to act.
Justice Lifu, after perusing the PDP’s Constitution and exhibits, agreed with Maina that Damagum can only be replaced at the national convention or through a court order.
The judge emphasized that any attempt to truncate the four-year tenure of the northern region, which has not been completed, without the national convention would violate the PDP constitution.
The court declared that PDP NEC and BoT are bound by the party’s Constitution and that Damagum, having been appointed from the northern region, is entitled to serve out the remaining tenure of the national chairman.
Earlier, Justice Lifu dismissed the opposition of the defendants to the suit, stating that Maina had sufficient interest and justiciable cause to institute the case.
The judge held that Maina, having displayed his PDP membership card before the court and raised the fundamental issue of protection of the PDP Constitution, had locus standi to bring the case.
The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing PDP crisis, and its implications will likely be far-reaching.
The court’s decision reinforces the importance of adhering to the party’s constitution and ensures stability in the party’s leadership until the national convention in December 2025.
With this ruling, Damagum’s position as Acting National Chairman is secured until the convention, providing clarity and direction for the party’s members and stakeholders.
