The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the party.
The court ordered that no other person must be recognized as PDP national chairman other than Damagum until the national convention of the party scheduled for December next year.
Akelicious reports that Justice Peter Lifu issued the restraining order against PDP NEC, BoT and others while delivering judgment in a suit instituted against them by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina.
The judge held that in line with Articles 42, 47 and 67 of PDP, it is only at the National Convention of the party that national officers can be elected .
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/579/2024, Justice Lifu said that PDP members are bound by the Constitution of the party and as such must always act in line with the provisions and obedience to the party’s law
The plaintiff, who claimed to be chairman of PDP in Yobe state had instituted the suit against PDP and eight others alleging that some stakeholders of the party have been holding clandestine meetings to forcefully remove Damagum from office in gross violation of the party’s Constitution.
He said that a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr Phillip Omeiza Salawu was being pushed forward as replacement for Damagun by the stakeholders.
Maina claimed that upon becoming aware of the plan, two separate letters complaining against the clandestine meetings were delivered to the national secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and that despite the acknowledgment of the two letters, the National Secretary and BoT members have never deemed it fit to act on the letters and their claims.
In the suit instituted on his behalf by Joshua Musa, SAN, the plaintiff therefore prayed the court to invoke article 45, 47 and 67 of PDP Constitution to stop the move to replace Damagum as the Acting National Chairman.
