The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman. Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Damagum must remain in office until the PDP’s national convention scheduled for December 2025.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, Justice Lifu emphasized that, according to the PDP’s constitution, national officers can only be elected at the party’s national convention. He referenced Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP’s constitution, underscoring that party members must adhere to these provisions.
Maina, who is the PDP chairman in Yobe State, brought the suit against the PDP and eight others, alleging that some party stakeholders were holding secret meetings to oust Damagum in violation of the party’s rules. He claimed that a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Phillip Salawu, was being pushed as Damagum’s replacement.
Maina stated that he had written two letters to PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, warning about the clandestine plans but received no action from the party’s leadership.
Through his legal counsel, Joshua Musa (SAN), Maina requested the court to invoke the PDP constitution to block any attempts to replace Damagum outside the stipulated process. He argued that the party’s national chairmanship should rotate between the northern and southern regions and could not be changed arbitrarily.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu agreed with the plaintiff, declaring that Damagum could only be removed by a national convention or a court order. He also ruled that any attempt to cut short the northern region’s tenure, which has not yet been completed, would violate the PDP’s constitution.
The judge dismissed objections from the defendants, who had argued that Maina lacked the legal standing to file the suit and that the court had no jurisdiction. Justice Lifu affirmed that Maina had a justifiable interest in protecting the PDP’s constitution and the rights of the northern region.
The court’s ruling ensures that Damagum, who was appointed from the northern region following the tenure of former national chairman Iyorchia Ayu, will serve out the remainder of the term.
