Calls for Judicial Non-Interference in Party Affairs
Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the opposition lawmakers coalition in the House of Representatives, has expressed strong criticism of a recent court order that restrains the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagun as the Acting National Chairman.
In a statement released on Friday, Ugochinyere contended that the court’s decision does not prevent the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP from proceeding with Damagun’s removal. He emphasized that there was no existing Federal or State High Court order prior to the long-overdue ousting of Damagun.
The controversy arose following the suspension of Damagun and other party officials, after which the PDP’s NWC appointed Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed, the current National Treasurer, as the new Acting National Chairman. However, a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has since mandated that no individual other than Damagun can be recognized as the PDP national chairman until the party’s national convention, scheduled for December next year.
Justice Lifu’s ruling came in response to a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, asserting that the election of national officers can only occur at the National Convention, as stipulated in Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP’s constitution.
Reacting to the judgment, Ugochinyere reiterated that the court’s order should not impede the decisions made by the NWC regarding Damagun’s suspension. He accused the ruling of favoring a faction within the PDP that is aligned with the pro-Wike camp, suggesting that it undermines the party’s internal governance.
Ugochinyere remains firm in his stance that Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed is the legitimate acting chair of the PDP as the party prepares for an upcoming NEC meeting later this month. He urged the judiciary to refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of political parties, emphasizing the need for autonomy in managing party leadership matters.