In a key legal decision, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot remove Mr. Umar Damagum from his position as the acting national chairman until the party holds its national convention in December 2025. Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment during a virtual session monitored by news agencies, made it clear that only the national convention has the authority to elect or remove national officers of the PDP.
Background of the Case
The case was brought forward by Senator Umar Maina through his lawyer, Joshua Musa, SAN, with the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024. Senator Maina, who serves as the PDP Chairman in Yobe State, filed the lawsuit against the PDP and eight other defendants, claiming that some members of the party were secretly meeting to force Damagum out of office.
He accused these stakeholders of trying to install Dr. Phillip Salawu, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, as a replacement for Damagum. Maina argued that this move would violate the party’s constitution. In response, Maina sent two formal complaints to the national secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Although these complaints were acknowledged, the national secretary and the Board of Trustees (BoT) did not act on them.
Court’s Decision
Justice Lifu ruled that the PDP’s leadership must respect the party’s constitution. He specifically pointed out that according to Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP Constitution, only the national convention or a court order could remove Damagum from office. He further explained that party members are required to follow the rules and laws set out by their constitution.
The judge emphasized that trying to remove Damagum before his four-year term, which represents the northern region, ends would violate the party’s legal framework. He also ruled that the PDP’s national executive committee (NEC) and BoT cannot recognize anyone else as the national chairman until the next national convention.
The Rotational Principle
One of the key arguments presented by the plaintiff was that the position of national chairman rotates between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria. Maina asked the court to uphold this rule, arguing that Damagum’s removal should only happen at the national convention, which is a constitutionally mandated event for leadership changes.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu supported this view, saying that any effort to cut short the northern region’s four-year leadership term without going through the national convention would be a breach of the PDP Constitution. He stated that no stakeholder or group has the authority to bypass the rules laid out in the party’s internal documents.
Key Takeaways
- Mr. Umar Damagum will remain the acting national chairman of the PDP until December 2025, when the next national convention is scheduled.
- The court ruled that only the national convention or a court order could remove him from office.
- The case highlighted internal disagreements within the PDP, with some members allegedly holding secret meetings to remove Damagum.
- The court reaffirmed that leadership positions in the PDP rotate between the northern and southern regions, and any attempt to change this without following the constitution is illegal.
This ruling is expected to bring some stability to the PDP’s leadership structure, ensuring that no further attempts to remove Damagum are made before the next convention. It also serves as a reminder that political parties must follow their internal rules and constitutions, especially when it comes to leadership transitions.
