PDP's attempt to remove acting chairman Damagum is halted by the court

The Peoples Democratic Party’s attempt to remove Umar Damagum, its interim national chairman, has been halted by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a decision rendered on May 3 and published in court records that news media had access to on May 8, the court ordered the respondents to refrain from choosing, designating, or designating a successor for Damagum until after the motion on notice has been heard and decided.

While granting the temporary order, Justice Peter Lifu postponed the hearing to May 14.

The judge granted the restraining order in favor of Alhaji Zanna Gaddama and Senator Umar Maina, who filed a lawsuit under the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024.

The PDP, its National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and the Independent National Electoral Commission were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

However, if it turns out that this order should never have been made or that the honorable court was misled into giving it, the plaintiffs must “enter into a fresh undertaking to pay damages to the respondents (to be assessed by the court)” according to the judge’s ruling.

In order to make room for the election of a legitimate PDP National Chairman, there was increasing pressure to remove Damagum ahead of the PDP National Executive Council, which convened in Abuja on April 18.

Party members from the North Central zone asked that Damagum be removed, arguing that the post should go back to the zone in order to finish Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s term, which was halted as the party’s national chairman last year.

One of the candidates running to succeed Damagum is Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of Benue State.

At the NEC meeting, the party decided to let Damagum continue in his position.

The party’s NWC gave the struggling acting national chairman a vote of confidence.