The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from ousting Umar Damagum from his position as Acting National Chairman of the party.
Justice Peter Lifu has ruled that only Umar Damagum shall be acknowledged as the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) until the party’s national convention set for December 2025.
This restraining order was issued against the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and others during a judgment related to a lawsuit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina.
The judge emphasized that, according to Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution, national officers can only be elected during the national convention. He further stated that PDP members are obligated to adhere to the party’s constitution in all their actions.
The plaintiff, who asserts that he is the chairman of the PDP in Yobe State, filed a lawsuit against the PDP and eight other parties, alleging that certain stakeholders within the party have been conducting secret meetings aimed at forcibly removing Damagum from his position, which he claims is a serious breach of the party’s constitution.
He further stated that former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Phillip Salawu, is being proposed as Damagum’s successor.
Maina alleged that upon learning of the plan, he submitted two letters to the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, expressing concerns about the secret meetings.
He further claimed that, although Anyanwu acknowledged receipt of the letters, neither he nor the members of the Board of Trustees have taken any action in response.
In the lawsuit filed on his behalf by Joshua Musa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the plaintiff requested the court to invoke Articles 45, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution to prevent the attempt to replace Damagum as Acting National Chairman.
The plaintiff specifically sought a court declaration affirming that the national chairmanship of the PDP is to be rotated between the northern and southern regions and cannot be altered by any means not outlined in the PDP’s Constitution.
After reviewing the PDP’s Constitution and relevant exhibits, Justice Lifu concurred with the plaintiff, stating that Damagum can only be replaced at the national convention of the PDP or through a court order.
Justice Lifu further stated that any attempt to disrupt the four-year tenure of the northern region, which is still ongoing, without a national convention would constitute a violation of the PDP constitution.
Earlier, the judge had dismissed the defendants’ objections to the suit, which claimed that the plaintiff lacked the standing to bring the case and that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear it.
Justice Lifu asserted that the plaintiff’s case was based on the need to protect the PDP Constitution from violations and highlighted that the northern region, to which he belongs, was being disadvantaged.
The judge noted that the plaintiff, having presented his PDP membership card to the court and raised the significant issue of safeguarding the PDP’s Constitution, had sufficient interest and a justifiable reason to file the case.
Consequently, Justice Lifu declared that the PDP’s NEC and BoT are obligated to adhere to the party’s Constitution, stating that Damagum, as national chairman, can only be replaced through the party’s national convention.
He further affirmed that Damagum, having been appointed from the northern region—where former national chairman Iyorcha Ayu also originated—has the right to complete the remaining tenure of the national chairmanship.
