Victor EzejaThe Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has barred the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the party.
The High Court’s Judge, Justice Peter Lifu, ruled that until the PDP’s national conference, which is slated for December 2025, no other person except Damagum should be recognised as the party’s chairman.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelJustice Lifu gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina against PDP NEC, BoT, and others.
According to the judge, national officers of the PDP can only be elected at the national convention, in accordance with Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the party’s constitution.
He asserted that PDP members are bound to operate in accordance with provisions of the party’s constitution.
Maina, who is the PDP chairman in Yobe State, filed the suit against the PDP and eight other parties, claiming that some party members had been meeting behind closed doors in an attempt to forcibly remove Damagum from office in flagrant violation of the party’s constitution.
He claimed that Phillip Salawu, a former Kogi State deputy governor, was being proposed as Damagum’s replacement.
Maina asked the court to employ sections 45, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution to block any attempt remove Damagum as the Acting National Chairman.
Specifically, the plaintiff urged the court to rule that the PDP’s national chairmanship is rotated between the north and south regions, not by any other process that isn’t outlined in the party’s constitution.
Justice Lifu, who agreed with the litigant that Damagum can only be replaced at the national convention of PDP or through an order of a court, ruled that any attempt to scuttle the northern region’s four-year term that is yet to finish without a national convention would be considered a violation of the PDP constitution.
The judge also ruled that Damagum was qualified to finish the remainder of the national chairman’s term since he was appointed from the northern region, where former national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, hails from.
Gale of Suspension
Earlier on Friday, a faction of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) announced suspension of the Acting National Chairman, Damagun, and the national secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
This was in retaliation to the suspension of the PDP National Publicity Debo Ologunagba, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, over allegations of disloyalty and insubordination.
READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Only NEC Can Suspend Me – National Chairman, Ayu
The statement read: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arising from its 593rd Meeting today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, has directed the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Hon Debo Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser (NLA), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, to step aside.
“As a result, the NWC constituted a committee to be chaired by the Deputy National Chairman (South) H.E. Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issues raised against the officers in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.
“Following the NWC’s Decision, it directed their respective deputies (DNPS and DNLA) to assume office in acting capacity with effect from Friday, October 11, 2014, pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee. The officers are:
“Ibrahim Abdullahi Manga, Acting National Publicity Secretary and . Okechukwu Osuoha, Acting National Legal Adviser
“The NWC enjoins all leaders, critical stakeholders, teeming members and supporters of our great Party to remain focused and committed as it pilots the day-to-day affairs of the PDP for its greater good.”
However, in reaction to that, the other faction in a statement signed by Ologunagba on Friday also announced the suspension of Damagum and Anyanwu.
They accused Damagum of anti-party activities making reference to the party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who had allegedly announced their defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has extensively considered the series of complaints raised against the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu particularly with regard to the letter addressed by them to the Court of Appeal in Appeal No:CA/PH/307/2024 against the party’s position in the case involving the 27 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who vacated their seats upon decamping from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The NWC condemned this anti-party activity of the Acting National Chairman and the National Secretary which is in gross violation of the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) and their Oath of Office.
“Consequently, the NWC, pursuant to Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the PDP Constitution, has suspended Amb. Illiya Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party respectively and referred them to the National Disciplinary Committee for further action.
“In the meantime, the two officials are suspended from all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the National Disciplinary Committee.”
PDP Faction Appoints New Acting Chairman
Meanwhile, the PDP faction called integrity group on Friday, announced the appointment of Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as acting National Chairman.
In a statement, stated that Mohammed’s appointment takes effect immediately and is in line with the PDP’s constitution as amended in 2017.
The statement reads: “Following the suspension of His Excellency, Ambassador Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman.
“The appointment which takes immediate effect is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017)
“The NWC calls on all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholder,s and members of our great Party to remain focused at this critical time especially as the NWC commences arrangements towards the holding of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled for Thursday, 24th October, 2024.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
