JUST IN: Court Bars PDP NEC, BoT from Removing Damagum as Acting National Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the National Executive Committee (NEC) and 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, in delivering the judgment, held that according to the party’s constitution—specifically Articles 42, 47, and 67—national officers of the PDP can only be elected or removed at a national convention, which is scheduled for December next year. The court ruling means no other individual can assume the role of national chairman before that event.

The case was brought before the court by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, who alleged that clandestine efforts were underway by some party stakeholders to replace Damagum, in violation of the PDP constitution. Maina, who serves as the PDP chairman for Yobe State, claimed that a faction was pushing for Phillip Salawu, a former Kogi State deputy governor, to take over the chairmanship.

Maina stated that despite formally notifying PDP’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, about these secret meetings, no action was taken by the party leadership, prompting him to seek legal intervention. Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joshua Musa, Maina asked the court to enforce the PDP constitution and halt the removal of Damagum.

Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s arguments, ruling that any attempt to remove Damagum before the national convention would violate the party’s rules. He emphasized that the PDP’s Constitution requires the chairmanship to be rotated between northern and southern regions, and any attempt to cut short the northern region’s four-year tenure would be unconstitutional.

The court also dismissed objections raised by the defendants, which questioned Maina’s standing to bring the suit and the court’s jurisdiction. Justice Lifu ruled that Maina, having demonstrated his membership and interest in upholding the PDP constitution, had sufficient grounds to file the case.