PDP chieftain Ikenga Ugochinyere clarifies that a court order did not prevent the National Working Committee (NWC) from sacking Damagum as Acting National Chairman, disputing claims of legal interference.
The spokesperson for Nigeria’s opposition lawmakers’ coalition, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, stated that a court order did not prevent the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from dismissing Illiya Damagun as acting National Chairman.
He stated that there was no Federal or State High Court order in place before the long-overdue removal of Damagun as PDP Chairman.
Remember that after Ambassador Illiya Damagun was suspended as the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with others, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) approved Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed, who is currently serving as the PDP’s National Treasurer, to take over as Acting National Chairman.
On Friday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order preventing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Ambassador Umar Damagun as the Acting National Chairman.
The court ruled that only Damagun is to be acknowledged as the PDP national chairman until the party’s national convention, which is scheduled for December next year.
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Justice Lifu granted the restraining order against PDP NEC, BoT, and others while ruling on a lawsuit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina.
The judge ruled that, according to Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP’s regulations, national officers can only be elected at the party’s National Convention.
In response, Ugochinyere criticized the judgment, stating that the court order did not prevent the National Working Committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from dismissing acting National Chairman Illiya Damagun.
He mentioned that Justice Lifu’s decision in favor of the Pro-Wike APC-backed PDP faction was issued after Damagun had been suspended.
He asserts that Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed will continue as the acting chair until the party holds its NEC meeting later this month.
He, however, called on the courts to refrain from interfering in internal party matters.
