Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, held that Umar Damagum remains the legitimate National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and can only be removed through a national convention.
The decision followed a suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024, filed by Senator Umar Maina against the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT), among others.
Maina, the PDP chairman in Yobe State, alleged that some party members were plotting secret meetings aimed at forcefully ousting Damagum, which he argued contravened the PDP Constitution.
He further claimed that a plan was underway to install former Kogi State Deputy Governor Phillip Salawu as Damagum’s replacement.
According to Maina, he formally raised concerns about these clandestine efforts by submitting letters to PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
However, he stated that despite acknowledging his letters, the National Secretary and BoT did not act on them.
Through his counsel, Joshua Musa (SAN), Maina petitioned the court to apply Articles 45, 47, and 67 of the PDP Constitution to block any attempt to replace Damagum without following due process.
He emphasized that the party’s leadership should alternate between the northern and southern regions, as outlined in the party’s Constitution.
Upon reviewing the PDP Constitution, Justice Lifu affirmed that Damagum’s removal could only occur at a national convention or by a judicial order.
He ruled that Damagum must retain his position until the next scheduled convention in December of the following year. The court also prohibited the PDP NEC and BoT from attempting to remove Damagum outside the prescribed procedures.
Justice Lifu reiterated that party members are bound by the PDP’s governing rules and must act in accordance with them. He warned that any attempt to cut short Damagum’s term without a national convention would directly contravene the party’s foundational laws.
Addressing objections raised by the defendants, Justice Lifu dismissed their arguments challenging Maina’s standing and the court’s jurisdiction.
He determined that Maina’s case was grounded in the need to protect the PDP Constitution and the four-year northern tenure. The judge noted that Maina, as a PDP member with legitimate interest in upholding the party’s rules, was justified in filing the suit.
In his final ruling, Justice Lifu declared that the NEC and BoT are constitutionally bound to respect the national convention as the only legitimate avenue for changing the party’s chairmanship, thereby confirming that Damagum has the right to complete his term as PDP’s national chairman.