PDP's Damagum Gets Court Protection from Removal

Umar Damagurm

Court prevents PDP from dismissing Umar Damagum, the acting head of the party

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to refrain from dismissing Umar Damagurm, the party's interim national chairman.

The court issued an order on Friday, May 3, restraining the respondents from choosing, designating, or designating a replacement for Damagum until after the motion on notice has been heard and decided.

Justice Peter Lifu, who granted the temporary order, postponed the hearing until May 14th.

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 (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BoT), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

However, if it turns out that the order should not have been given or that the court was deceived into giving it, the judge ordered the plaintiffs to sign a new undertaking promising to pay damages to the respondents (to be determined by the court).

Pressure to remove Damagum in order to make room for the appointment of a formal PDP National Chairman had grown ahead of the PDP National Executive Council, which convened in Abuja on April 18.

North Central party members wanted Damagum removed, arguing that the post should go back to the zone to finish Senator Lyorchia Ayu's term as the party's national chairman, who was suspended in 2023.

Former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam is one of the candidates running to succeed Damagum, but the party decided during the NEC meeting to let Damagum stay in office.

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