PDP: No Damage For Damagun

The Acting National Chairman of the opposition Peoples’s Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagun has continued to throttle on despite plots by some members of the party to remove him.

On Thursday, Damagun received a restraining order from a Federal High court in Abuja, the nation’s capital stopping his removal from office.

According to a copy of the order cited by the magazine, Justice Peter Lifu, who presided ordered the respondents in the interim, from appointing, selecting, or nominating any person to replace  Damagum, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The interim order, the judge said subsists till May 14, the next hearing date. The ruling was delivered on May 3, according to details provided by the party in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024.

Further details from the document indicate that the defendants in the suit are the PDP, its National Working Committee, NWC,  National Executive Committee, NEC, Board of Trustees and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

An ally of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the embattled Chairman had survived a recent plot to unseat him by his traducers who want his replacement to come from the North central, where Iyorchia Ayu, the former chairman came from.

Ayu, the magazine recalls was sacked last year as Chairman after the presidential election which the party lost.

The magazine reported that Damagun was to be removed on April 18 by some unhappy party chieftains, but survived because the plot did not sail through, after the PDP state governors reportedly backed out at the last minute.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP governors ahead the party’s NEC meeting last month, their Chairman and governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed told journalists that the party will ensure that its 2017 constitution is upheld regarding the leadership of the party during the meeting.

Mohammed stated that Damagun removal was not a priority for the meeting, describing the alleged plot to remove the chairman as a speculation.

Mohammed said, “this meeting is not convened to discuss a change in leadership. Our priority is to address all outstanding matters and move forward so that all activities outlined in the party’s constitution, including congresses, are completed within the stipulated timeframe.

“While the public is free to speculate and discuss, it’s important to note that NEC, comprising the PDP Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders, will ultimately make decisions on such matters. As governors, we understand our leadership role, but we recognise that the NEC will determine whether it is appropriate to fill the leadership vacancy, taking into account legal considerations due to ongoing litigation.

“We are committed to unity within the party and will not allow any factionalisation attempts by external forces. Our goal is to address all issues and ensure the party is unified for optimal performance and success in the upcoming elections.”