In a recent legal ruling at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Peter Lifu affirmed Umar Damagum as the rightful National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party. The judgment came in response to a suit filed by Senator Umar Maina against the party’s National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. Maina, claiming to be the PDP chairman in Yobe state, challenged alleged attempts to oust Damagum from office unlawfully.
During the court proceedings, Maina highlighted concerns about secret meetings aimed at replacing Damagum with Phillip Salawu, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State. Maina contended that such actions violated the party’s constitution and sought intervention based on specific articles within the PDP’s governing laws.
Justice Lifu, upon reviewing the PDP constitution and related evidence, concurred with Maina’s position. The ruling emphasized that Damagum could only be replaced through the party’s national convention or by court order. Justice Lifu further restricted the PDP NEC and BoT from removing Damagum as the chairman, citing adherence to the party’s constitutional provisions and the need to respect the northern region’s tenure in the leadership role.
Dismissal of the defendants’ objections was based on the plaintiff’s standing to protect the PDP constitution and ensure fair representation for the northern region. Justice Lifu acknowledged Maina’s legitimate interest in upholding party rules and affirmed that any replacement of Damagum must align with the PDP’s constitutional procedures.
Ultimately, the court’s decision underscored the importance of upholding the PDP’s internal regulations, ensuring a transparent and lawful process for leadership transitions within the party.