Abuja Court Rules: Damagum Remains PDP Ag Chairman, As NWC Names Mohammed As New Helmsman

By Ayodele Oni

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 judgement is coming just as a new acting national chairman for the PDP in person of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed  Mohammed.

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.

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.

A statement on Friday by Debo Ologunagba, whose suspension was announced on Thursday, stated that “Following the suspension of His Excellency, Amb. Illiya Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the appointment of Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the Acting National Chairman.

“The appointment which takes immediate effect is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC calls on all Organs, leaders, critical stakeholder and members of our great Party to remain focused at this critical time especially as the NWC commences arrangements towards the holding of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already scheduled for Thursday, 24th October, 2024.