On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed that Umar Damagum remains the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The decision came from a judgment on a suit filed by Senator Umar Maina, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024, against the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT).
Senator Maina, who claimed to be the PDP chairman in Yobe State, initiated the lawsuit to challenge secret meetings allegedly held by some party stakeholders aiming to oust Damagum, a move he argued violated the party’s Constitution. Maina alleged that Phillip Salawu, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, was being positioned to replace Damagum.
Maina’s attorney, Joshua Musa (SAN), requested the court enforce articles 45, 47, and 67 of the PDP Constitution to halt efforts to remove Damagum, asserting that the PDP national chairmanship is rotational between the northern and southern regions, as specified in the party’s Constitution.
Justice Lifu, after reviewing the PDP Constitution and supporting evidence, concurred with Maina’s argument. He ruled that Damagum could only be replaced at the PDP’s national convention or by a court order. The court prohibited the PDP NEC and BoT from removing Damagum, affirming that officer elections must occur at the national convention, scheduled for December next year.
The court dismissed the defendants’ claims that Maina lacked the standing to file the suit and that the court had no jurisdiction. Justice Lifu highlighted Maina’s legitimate interest in protecting the PDP Constitution and ensuring that the northern region, from which he hails, is not deprived of its rightful tenure.
The ruling emphasized that Damagum, appointed from the northern region like his predecessor, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, is entitled to complete the national chairman’s tenure. Justice Lifu concluded that the PDP NEC and BoT must adhere to the party’s Constitution, with any replacement of the national chairman requiring a national convention.