The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership, preventing the removal of Mr. Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman of the party.

In a virtual proceeding monitored by newsmen on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling. He instructed the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) not to recognize any other individual as the party’s national chairman until the national convention scheduled for December 2025.

Justice Lifu stated that according to Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP Constitution, national officers can only be elected during the national convention. He emphasized that all PDP members are bound by the party’s constitution and must act in accordance with its provisions.

The case, marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024, was brought by Joshua Musa, SAN, on behalf of Sen. Umar Maina. The plaintiff, who claims to be the PDP chairman in Yobe State, alleged that certain party stakeholders were holding secret meetings aimed at forcefully removing Damagum from office, in violation of the party’s constitution.

Arewa Youths support Telecom Tariff hike, says vast opportunities lie in it

South West Stronger With Sanwo-Olu As Governors’ Forum Chair – Youths

IBB’s Daughter Honours Memory Of Late Mother Maryam With Launch of Foundation For Less Privileged

Over 50 Billion in Six Months: How Bala Mohammed Has Mismanaged Bauchi Resources — Bauchi Progressives Forum

He noted that Dr. Phillip Salawu, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, was being positioned as a potential replacement for Damagum. Maina claimed that upon discovering this plan, he submitted two letters of complaint to the party’s national secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, but received no action in response.

Maina asked the court to invoke Articles 45, 47, and 67 of the PDP Constitution to halt the attempt to replace Damagum. He specifically requested a declaration that the party’s national chairmanship rotates between the northern and southern regions, following procedures outlined in its constitution.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu concurred with the plaintiff, stating that Damagum can only be replaced during the national convention or through a court order. He added that any effort to disrupt the remaining four-year tenure of the northern region without a national convention would constitute a violation of the PDP Constitution.