A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Umar Damagum remains the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, preventing his removal by the NEC and BoT until the national convention in December 2025. The court emphasized adherence to the party's constitution in leadership transitions.
In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagum as Acting National Chairman. Justice Peter Lifu emphasized that according to the party's constitution, only the national convention can elect or replace national officers, which is not scheduled until December 2025.
The case was brought forth by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, who claimed that certain party members were conspiring to oust Damagum, allegedly favoring former Kogi Deputy Governor Phillip Salawu as a replacement. Maina argued that these actions violated the PDP’s constitution, which mandates a structured process for leadership changes.
Justice Lifu ruled in favor of Maina, highlighting that the party's constitution must be upheld and that any attempt to terminate Damagum's tenure prematurely would undermine the established rules. He dismissed objections from the defendants regarding Maina's standing to file the suit, affirming that he had a legitimate interest in protecting the party's constitutional integrity.
In conclusion, the court declared that Damagum remained the recognized national chairman until the convention, reinforcing the principle that party governance should adhere strictly to constitutional guidelines.
