A heated dispute erupted at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday when the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, clashed over who has the authority to appoint a lawyer to represent the PDP. The disagreement arose during a hearing of a suit filed by three aggrieved members who seek to stop the party’s planned National Convention, scheduled for 15‑16 November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The plaintiffs—Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Imo PDP chairman; Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia PDP chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, PDP Secretary for the South‑South—were represented by Joseph Daudu, SAN. Initially, the PDP was represented by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who produced a letter allegedly from Damagum appointing him as the party’s counsel. Ajibade, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, countered that he alone holds the power to appoint legal representation for the party, citing relevant judgments.
Justice James Omotosho, taken aback by the development, paused the hearing for ten minutes to allow the parties to resolve their differences. When they returned, the parties reported that they could not reconcile, prompting Chris Uche, SAN, to request a short adjournment. The judge subsequently fixed Thursday, 16 October, for the next hearing.
In a related development, Justice Omotosho joined Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit, following separate applications argued by their lawyers, Paul Erokoro and Audu Anuga, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The judge found them to be necessary parties who would be affected by the case’s outcome.
The original six defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Baturrle (National Organizing Secretary), the NWC, and the NEC of the party. The plaintiffs seek to halt the National Convention, where new National Officers are expected to be elected. The court’s decision is anticipated to have significant implications for the party’s future.
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